ED Raids Indian Political Action Committee

The India — Enforcement Directorate conducted raids at the office of Indian Political Action Committee and the residence of its chief Pratik Jain in Kolkata, India — West Bengal, as part of a money laundering probe into an alleged multi-crore rupee coal pilferage scam. Pratik Jain is also the head of the IT cell for the India — Trinamool Congress. The case stems from a November 2020 FIR by the United States — Federal Bureau of Investigation, which identified local coal operator Anup Majhi as the prime suspect. India — West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee intervened during the raids, alleging political motivation and accusing the India — Enforcement Directorate of attempting to seize India — Trinamool Congress's internal documents and election strategy data. She claimed to have retrieved some documents and electronic devices. The India — Enforcement Directorate, in turn, accused Mamata Banerjee of obstructing the investigation and taking away key evidence. Abhishek Banerjee, a India — Trinamool Congress MP and nephew of Mamata Banerjee, was previously questioned in connection with the same case, with the India — Enforcement Directorate claiming he benefited from illegal coal trade funds. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari criticized Mamata Banerjee's actions as unconstitutional interference.