In a dramatic development with significant political ramifications, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted simultaneous raids at the offices of the election consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) in Kolkata and Delhi. The action, linked to an earlier coal smuggling case, has sent shockwaves through political circles, occurring just months before the crucial West Bengal Assembly elections.
Simultaneous Raids and a Sinister Threat
The federal agency executed searches at I-PAC's offices in Kolkata's Salt Lake sector and in the national capital. Officials also raided the Loudon Street residence of I-PAC director Pratik Jain and other connected premises in Kolkata. The ED stated that the action is part of an investigation into a coal smuggling case previously registered in Delhi.
Adding a grave and alarming dimension to the day's events, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose received a death threat later in the evening. Following the threat, security across Kolkata, particularly around the Raj Bhavan, was immediately strengthened. The police are on high alert and have launched an investigation into the source of the threat.
Political Firestorm Erupts
The timing of the raids, on the cusp of the state polls where I-PAC is advising the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), has ignited a fierce political controversy. Opposition leaders and TMC supporters have swiftly condemned the move, drawing parallels to raiding a party office on the eve of elections. They have accused the central government of the selective and politically motivated use of investigative agencies to intimidate the opposition.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was seen visiting the I-PAC office at Godrej Waterside in Salt Lake shortly after the raids commenced, in a show of solidarity. The incident has intensified the already heated political bickering in the state, setting the stage for a charged electoral battle.
Unprecedented Scrutiny of a Poll Strategist
This marks the first instance where a private election management company has come under the ED's scanner. Founded by renowned political strategist Prashant Kishor, I-PAC first gained national fame by orchestrating the BJP's successful 2014 Lok Sabha campaign. Since then, the firm has worked with a diverse array of political parties across India.
I-PAC's notable associations include:
- Nitish Kumar's JD(U) in Bihar (2015)
- The Congress in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh (2017)
- YSRCP's Jagan Mohan Reddy in Andhra Pradesh (2019)
- Shiv Sena in Maharashtra (2019 & 2024)
- AAP in Delhi (2020 & 2025)
- The DMK in Tamil Nadu (2021)
Its longest and most current partnership is with Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, which began in 2021. In Tamil Nadu, it continues to manage outreach for the ruling DMK. The raids on such a pivotal player in Indian elections have raised questions about the boundaries between investigating financial irregularities and influencing the democratic process.
The twin events of the high-profile ED action and the death threat against the constitutional head of the state have plunged Kolkata into a state of high political tension and security vigilance, with all eyes now on the unfolding investigations and their impact on the upcoming polls.
