West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a large-scale protest across Kolkata on Friday against the Enforcement Directorate (ED), following raids at the offices of I-PAC, the consultancy firm behind the Trinamool Congress’s election strategies. The demonstrations also came in response to the alleged mistreatment of TMC MPs in Delhi, who were reportedly detained while protesting outside Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s residence.

Banerjee strongly criticised the Delhi Police on social media, calling their conduct “arrogance in uniforms” and warning BJP members that “India is not their private property.” She alleged that opposition leaders such as Mahua Moitra and Derek O’Brien were being treated with double standards, contrasting their detention with the red-carpet treatment allegedly given to ruling party protests.

The ED, however, countered with allegations that Banerjee personally interfered with their operations at I-PAC director Pratik Jain’s residence. The agency claimed that she arrived with a significant contingent of state police and removed key evidence, including electronic devices and important documents, disrupting the investigation.

Also Read: TMC MPs Detained Outside Amit Shah’s Office During Protest Against ED Raids

This confrontation has turned what was initially a legal raid into a larger political showdown, raising questions about state-versus-central agency powers. Banerjee framed her protest as a defence of the party’s strategic information and a fight against “political theft,” while critics accused her of obstructing justice and interfering with a lawful investigation.

The protest march, which started in Jadavpur and proceeded towards Hazra, drew massive crowds and highlighted the deepening political tension in West Bengal. Analysts suggest the standoff could further polarise political discourse in the state, with potential implications for both governance and upcoming elections.

The escalating drama underscores the friction between the TMC-led state government and central agencies, signalling that West Bengal may witness an intensified clash between political dissent and law enforcement actions in the coming weeks.

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