The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted fresh searches at various locations associated with the political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) in relation to the West Bengal coal smuggling case. The raids spanned Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Delhi as part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged scam.
Simultaneous searches were carried out at multiple premises linked to I-PAC, including the residence of Rishi Raj Singh, one of the directors of the firm, in Bengaluru. These actions are part of the ED’s continuous efforts to crack down on the coal smuggling case, which has witnessed numerous raids and arrests in recent times.
I-PAC has played a significant role in formulating election strategies for the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee ahead of the upcoming Bengal Assembly elections. In January, the Enforcement Directorate had conducted searches at I-PAC’s office in Kolkata and the residence of another director, Pratik Jain, as part of the money laundering investigation related to the alleged coal scam.
The raids sparked controversy when Mamata Banerjee and several Trinamool leaders entered the I-PAC Salt Lake office during the search operation. The ED alleged that Banerjee removed crucial evidence, such as documents and electronic devices, from the premises, a claim she vehemently denied, accusing the central agency of overstepping its authority.
Subsequently, the Enforcement Directorate sought an independent inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) through the High Court and later the Supreme Court, citing alleged interference by the state government. The ED claimed that around Rs 10 crore in suspected proceeds of crime was routed to I-PAC through illicit channels, with payments from the Trinamool Congress for its involvement in the 2022 Goa Assembly elections.
Overall, the searches and subsequent legal actions reflect the intensifying scrutiny on I-PAC and its alleged involvement in financial irregularities linked to political activities.