During the course of its investigation, the Enforcement Directorate claimed that an organisation allegedly involved in laundering illegal proceeds had carried out transactions worth several tens of crores of rupees with political consultancy firm I-PAC.
Tensions rose after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accompanied by police officers and party aides, entered the ED’s search locations and later emerged carrying files and pen drives. Banerjee alleged that the seized material contained sensitive electoral strategy documents linked to the Trinamool Congress.
Responding to criticism over her intervention in the ED’s operation, Banerjee maintained that she had done nothing wrong. She said she had gone to the site in her capacity as the Trinamool Congress chief and had every right to safeguard what she described as her party’s poll strategy ahead of the upcoming elections.
However, critics questioned her claim, pointing out that senior IAS and IPS officers were seen accompanying her during the visit. They argued that such official presence raised questions if she was acting purely as a party leader and not as the Chief Minister.
Escalating her attack, Banerjee alleged that the proceeds of the coal scam ultimately benefited Union Home Minister Amit Shah. She claimed the money was routed through BJP’s West Bengal MP Jagannath Sarkar, whom she referred to as a “dacoit”, and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, whom she described as a “gaddar” and Shah’s “new godson”.
“They keep talking about coal money. Who enjoys it? Amit Shah does. The money goes through a traitor. Jagannath is involved — not Lord Jagannath of Puri, but this Jagannath is a dacoit. From Jagannath it goes to Suvendu, and then to Amit Shah,” Banerjee said.
She added that she had remained silent so far out of respect for the constitutional position she holds. “It is their good fortune that I am holding a constitutional chair, which is why I am not taking out the pen drives. If they push me too far, I warn you, I have everything. There is a Lakshman Rekha,” she said.
Banerjee also questioned the role of central forces, including the BSF and CISF, alleging that they had failed to prevent illegal coal smuggling in the state.
Following the ED raid at I-PAC’s office, the Chief Minister, addressing a large gathering protesting the searches in Kolkata on Friday, warned that any further pressure on her government would force her to make information public. “I have pen drives. I have kept quiet out of respect for the chair I hold. Don’t pressure me too much. If I speak, the whole country will be shocked,” she said.
She further claimed that she was exercising restraint in the national interest, adding, “If I open my mouth, there will be an uproar not just in the country, but across the world.”