ED submits full account of I-PAC search to Delhi, alleges Mamata 'snatched documents'

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sent a detailed report to its Delhi headquarters regarding the search operations at I-PAC offices in Salt Lake and the residence of chief Prateek Jain in Kolkata. The report follows a request from the Union Home Ministry seeking a full account of the events during the raid.

ED officials reportedly compiled the report based on firsthand experiences, including the roles of central forces, Kolkata Police, and state administration during the searches. The agency has highlighted the obstacles faced during the operation on Thursday, including legal and administrative challenges.

The report alleges that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee intervened during the raid, forcibly taking important digital documents from ED officials despite repeated requests not to interfere. The documents were seized from Prateek Jain’s Loudon Street residence.

According to the ED, Kolkata Police arrived on the scene after a complaint of trespass, and Police Commissioner Manoj Verma was briefed about the ongoing operation. ED officers presented their identity cards and search warrants before conducting the searches.

Both the Trinamool Congress and the ED have filed separate petitions in the Calcutta High Court regarding the incident. Hearings in both matters have been adjourned until January 14, and the detailed ED report may also be shared with the office of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.