The upscale Loudon Street in Kolkata witnessed high drama and a tense standoff on Thursday as central agencies and state police locked horns during a search operation. The scene was reminiscent of a similar event that unfolded in the same neighbourhood seven years ago.
A Dawn Raid and Swift Police Response
Officers from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrived at 7, Loudon Street around 6:30 am. Their target was the third-floor residence of Pratik Jain, one of the three directors of the political consultancy I-PAC. The building's location is significant, situated between the Commissioner of Police's residence and the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station.
As soon as the central force personnel took positions in the building's parking lot, Kolkata Police (KP) officers swarmed the street outside. An apparent tit-for-tat deployment ensued, with KP increasing its numbers in response to any additional central force presence. This mirrored events from February 3, 2019, when CBI officers had raided the nearby residence of then ADG (CID) Rajeev Kumar, who is now the state's DGP.
Traffic Snarls and a High-Profile Intervention
The operation disrupted normal life in the posh area. A crowd gathered, traffic slowed to a crawl, and shoppers were barred from entering ground-floor apparel stores. The arrival of senior police officials, including DC (South) Priyobrata Roy and later Police Commissioner Manoj Verma, signaled escalating tensions, leading to a complete traffic halt on Loudon Street.
The situation took a dramatic turn when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the spot. After asking for directions, she marched into Pratik Jain's residence and emerged minutes later holding a green file and a laptop. Addressing reporters, she launched a sharp attack, alleging, "They were seizing all my party's documents. I brought them back. That despicable home minister, Amit Shah. He can't control the country. He is getting my party's documents seized." She announced she was heading to the I-PAC office in Salt Lake Sector V before departing.
Aftermath and Lingering Tensions
After over eight hours, the ED team left the location around 2:45 pm. Pratik Jain, along with his wife and child, also left for the I-PAC office. However, a Kolkata Police team continued its vigil outside the building.
The day's events forced residents and office-goers to alter their plans, while local businesses suffered. Vehicle entry into the building became a lengthy process, though exit was easier. A driver present at the scene mentioned his employer had to reschedule a meeting in Howrah due to the tightened security. Traffic on Loudon Street only gradually returned to normal, marking the end of a day that underscored the deep political and institutional fissures in the state.
