Mamata Banerjee Files Complaint Against ED, CRPF Over Alleged Document Theft in I-PAC Raids

The political confrontation between the West Bengal government and central investigating agencies intensified on Friday after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee filed a formal police complaint against unidentified Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. The complaint follows ED search operations at the residence and office of Pratik Jain, head of election strategy firm I-PAC, in connection with the coal smuggling case.

The complaint was lodged at the Shakespeare Sarani police station in Kolkata on behalf of the Chief Minister herself. According to sources, Additional Officer-in-Charge Shiladitya Pal has been appointed as the investigating officer. Senior police officials confirmed that two separate complaints were registered on the same day—one filed directly by Mamata Banerjee and another registered suo motu by the police.

In her complaint, the Chief Minister has alleged theft and disappearance of important documents, illegal removal of electronic data, and intimidation of state government employees during the ED searches. The complaint also includes allegations of obstruction of official duties. However, no specific officers have been named, and the case has been registered against unidentified ED and CRPF personnel.

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The developments stem from Thursday morning’s coordinated ED raids at Pratik Jain’s residence on Loudon Street and his office in Sector V, Salt Lake. During the search operations, Mamata Banerjee visited both locations. Visuals from the scene showed her holding documents, while members of her security detail were also seen collecting papers and placing them inside her vehicle.

Following the raids, the Chief Minister termed the incident a “crime” and accused the ED of abusing its authority. She claimed that sensitive documents linked to election management and political strategies were forcibly taken away during the searches, calling the actions a direct assault on democratic processes.

The Enforcement Directorate, however, issued a strong counter-statement rejecting the allegations. The agency accused Mamata Banerjee and state police personnel of forcibly removing documents and electronic evidence during the searches, thereby obstructing the investigation. The episode has further deepened the rift between the state government and central agencies, with legal and political repercussions expected to follow.

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