The Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the political consultancy Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) moved the Calcutta High Court on Thursday, setting the stage for a major legal confrontation with the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The petitions challenge the legality of the central agency's searches conducted at the residence of I-PAC chief Pratik Jain and the group's office in Kolkata.
Core Allegations and Political Data at Stake
According to the petition filed by the TMC, which lists the Union government, the ED, and I-PAC itself as respondents, a primary concern is the alleged access gained by the probe agency to the party's confidential material. This includes sensitive data linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and crucial information on booth-level agents. Sources indicate the party has raised alarms that documents connected to its strategic preparations for the pivotal 2026 Bengal Assembly elections were also potentially compromised during the searches.
The ED's operations on Thursday targeted two key locations: Pratik Jain's home on Loudon Street near Park Street in central Kolkata, and the I-PAC office situated in Sector V, Salt Lake, the city's prominent IT hub. The agency has stated that these searches are connected to an investigation into an alleged coal scam.
On-Ground Tensions and Police Backlash
The searches were not without incident, leading to significant friction between central and state forces. Outside Jain's residence, a verbal confrontation erupted when central security personnel accompanying the ED allegedly instructed officers from the local Shakespeare Sarani police station to remain outside the main gate.
In a swift response, the Shakespeare Sarani police are now preparing to register a suo motu case against the ED and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), accusing them of obstructing police work. Furthermore, Jain's family is contemplating a separate legal complaint. They allege that family members were forcibly detained and that ED officials entered private areas of the home without prior notice.
Adding to the ED's legal headaches, the Electronic Complex police station in Salt Lake, which holds jurisdiction over Sector V, is also considering a suo motu case. This potential case stems from the allegation that the ED did not inform the local police before conducting the operation at the I-PAC office. The ED, in turn, has criticized the Kolkata Police for what it terms "overactivity" during its investigation.
A Successful Political Partnership Under Scrutiny
This high-stakes court battle unfolds against the backdrop of the TMC's highly successful and long-running association with I-PAC. The partnership began in 2019 and, over the next six-and-a-half years, became a formidable force in Bengal politics. With I-PAC on board, the TMC recorded a 100% strike rate in major elections, decisively winning the 2021 state assembly elections, the 2023 panchayat polls, and retaining its dominance in Bengal during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
While the architect of this partnership, Prashant Kishor, exited after the 2021 assembly polls to pursue his own political plans, I-PAC continued its engagement with the ruling party in West Bengal. The current legal tussle puts a spotlight on this influential political consultancy and its operational workings at a critical juncture before the 2026 state polls.
