In a significant escalation of the ongoing political confrontation, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee has initiated strong legal action against the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The move comes in direct response to the central agency's recent search operations linked to the I-PAC consultancy firm.
Legal Offensive: Multiple FIRs Registered
On Friday, January 9, 2026, multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) were officially filed against the ED at police stations in both Kolkata and Salt Lake. The chief minister's action represents a direct and personal legal challenge to the federal investigation agency's conduct. The FIRs are a cornerstone of the TMC's strategy to counter what the party alleges is political harassment and overreach by central agencies.
Calcutta High Court Petition Seeks Restraint
Parallel to the police complaints, the Trinamool Congress has approached the judiciary for urgent relief. The party has moved the Calcutta High Court with a specific petition. This legal plea seeks the court's intervention to impose immediate restraints on the Enforcement Directorate.
The core demand of the petition is to prevent the "misuse and dissemination" of any documents that were seized by the ED officials during their search operations. The TMC's legal team argues that without such a court order, there is a risk of selective leaks and politically motivated use of the seized material, which could prejudice ongoing investigations and public opinion.
Context and Political Repercussions
This legal duel is set against the backdrop of the ED's raids on premises connected to the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), a well-known political consultancy that has previously worked with the TMC. The agency's actions have been framed by the ruling party in West Bengal as a targeted attack orchestrated by the central government.
The filing of FIRs by a sitting chief minister against a central agency is a rare and dramatic step, underscoring the deep rift between the state government and the Centre. It signals a shift from political rhetoric to a formal legal battlefield. The developments on January 9, 2026, mark a new chapter in this conflict, with potential implications for federal relations and the operational protocols of central investigative agencies in opposition-ruled states.
The situation remains fluid as the Calcutta High Court is expected to hear the TMC's petition, and the police will now be compelled to process the FIRs filed against the ED. The outcome of these legal maneuvers will be closely watched, setting potential precedents for how similar confrontations are handled in the future.
