ED at I-PAC Office, Mamata Banerjee Visit Site: A Tense Day in Kolkata

Summary: ED raids I-PAC office and director’s residence; West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee visits with police leadership.

In a dramatic development in Kolkata on Friday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out searches at the office of political consulting firm I-PAC and at the residence of one of its directors, stirring political and public attention across West Bengal.

The searches began early in the day, with ED teams combing through files, computers and records at the I-PAC office — a firm known for its political strategy and campaign work. Officials spent several hours examining documentation and digital devices in what appeared to be a broad exercise focused on financial links or irregularities, though the agency has not yet publicly detailed the precise allegations under investigation.

Not long after the raids started, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the scene, flanked by senior police officials, including the Director General of Police (DGP) and the Commissioner of Police (CP). Her presence underscored the political heat surrounding the searches, as opposition figures and regional leaders have increasingly portrayed the action as pointed and consequential.

Banerjee, speaking briefly to reporters, framed the development as part of a pattern of central agencies targeting political entities and activists in the state. She criticised the timing and scope of the searches, arguing that decisions by investigative bodies should be seen as impartial rather than politically motivated. Supporters who gathered outside lent loud vocal support, echoing calls for transparency in the probe.

The ED, which enforces economic laws including money laundering regulations, has in recent months pursued several high-profile investigations involving political actors and corporate entities. While the agency has not released a detailed explanation of this particular action, officials indicated the searches were linked to ongoing inquiries that cross legal and financial domains.

Leaders from other political parties reacted differently. Some backed the ED’s role in probing financial irregularities, while others echoed Banerjee’s concerns about how and when such actions are carried out, especially close to sensitive political cycles.

The timing and optics of the operation, especially with a sitting chief minister visibly present alongside top police leadership, are likely to keep the story in headlines as more details emerge. For now, authorities involved in the raids are being tight-lipped about the specifics, even as legal teams around I-PAC prepare challenges in court.

This latest episode contributes to a broader narrative about the use of federal investigative agencies in politically sensitive cases — a theme that has repeatedly surfaced in West Bengal’s recent politics. As the investigation continues, both supporters and critics will be closely watching for official statements from the ED and any subsequent legal notices.