The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday, condemning her visit to the residence of Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) chief Pratik Jain during an Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid. Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad accused the Chief Minister of "snatching files" and obstructing a central agency investigation, labelling her conduct as irresponsible and unconstitutional.
Unprecedented Action During Raid
The controversy stems from an ED raid conducted on Thursday at Pratik Jain's Kolkata residence. The raid was part of an ongoing money laundering investigation into an alleged multi-crore rupee coal pilferage scam. While the raid was in progress, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the location, visited the premises, and left with certain documents and articles, according to the BJP's allegations.
Ravi Shankar Prasad, addressing reporters in Delhi, stated that Banerjee's actions amounted to a "serious penal offence." "Creating an obstruction where an investigation against corruption is taking place, and leaving after snatching a file — Mamata ji is guilty of a serious penal offence," he asserted. He emphasised that such an incident had never occurred in independent India's history.
BJP's Pointed Questions and Allegations
Prasad, a former Union Minister, questioned the Chief Minister's urgency and connection to the case. "Why are you so worried, Mamata ji?" he asked, adding, "What is your link with that consultancy firm?" He clarified that the raid was not at any Trinamool Congress (TMC) office or the residence of any party leader, MLA, or MP, but at a private consultancy firm accused of laundering crores linked to the coal scam.
He alleged that Bengal had become a "hotspot for coal smuggling" and hinted at the involvement of ruling party leaders. Prasad stated that the ED was merely following procedure based on a complaint about crores of transactions at the premises. He suggested that Banerjee's decision to "break all norms" indicated the presence of sensitive material she needed to remove.
Legal Repercussions and Political Fallout
Following the Chief Minister's visit, the Enforcement Directorate has moved court over the incident, terming the act illegal. The political consultant at the centre of the storm, I-PAC, manages the IT and media operations for the Trinamool Congress. Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee led a protest march on Thursday against the ED's action at I-PAC offices.
Prasad noted that while the matter is now sub-judice, the Chief Minister's silence on the issue was telling. He condemned what he called "unethical, irresponsible, unconstitutional, and shameful" conduct that destroyed constitutional limits. The incident has escalated the ongoing political tussle in West Bengal between the ruling TMC and the BJP-led central government.
