ED vs Mamata: Amazing Struggle Exposed

Jan 10, 2026 - By Ashutosh Roy Current AffairsPolitics

Key Highlights

1. ED vs Mamata Power struggle revamped.
2. ED conducted surprise raids at I-PAC offices and Pratik Jain’s residence on January 08, 2026.
3. Government files were reportedly recovered from a political strategic consultancy office.
4. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally intervened during the operation
5. The chief minister took away Files, hard disks, and phones.
6. Presence of serving IPS officers raised serious legal and ethical questions.
7. Government files were allegedly taken away in a party vehicle
8. Financial links between Shakambari Group and I-PAC came under scrutiny.
9. ED has moved the court, and legal outcomes will take time.
10. Political tension has intensified ahead of the 2026 West Bengal elections.

ED vs Mamata: Power Struggle

Why did ED raid I-PAC offices?

The ED vs Mamata power struggle has again raised political slugfest. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has taken a combative stance. This time, she is ready for a direct confrontation with the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The trigger is the sudden ED raids. It is just a new dimension to the ongoing Mamata Banerjee vs Central Agencies drama.

The agency conducted searches at the Loudon Street residence of Pratik Jain, the head of political strategist firm I-PAC, which works closely with the Trinamool Congress.

Moreover, the ED also raided I-PAC’s office in Salt Lake. As a result, the political temperature in West Bengal has sharply risen.

What is even more surprising is the recovery of government files from I-PAC’s office.

Naturally, a serious question arises. How can official government documents be found in the office of a party’s political consultant? Moreover, it is equally puzzling why the Chief Minister herself visited the spot. This raises further political and administrative questions.

Is this about coal scam and hawala?

Meanwhile, the ED’s operation is linked to allegations of illegal coal smuggling and hawala transactions. As a result, today’s raid has triggered fresh controversy and intensified the political confrontation.

Coal theft is not a new allegation. It has been going on for several years. Investigators allege that India’s mineral resources were illegally extracted and then sold to select companies. In this case, the name of a person known as “Lala” has surfaced.

Moreover, the Shakambari Group of Industries has also come under scrutiny. Meanwhile, agencies have found links between this company and hawala transactions. Even more significantly, I-PAC’s name has again emerged in connection with the hawala network.

Thus, the equation is complex and hydra-headed. However, despite this complexity, the Chief Minister appeared at two locations, raising sharp political questions.

Why did Mamata Banerjee intervene?

The Chief Minister personally went to the spot and allegedly took away files, hard disks, and mobile phones, almost by force. As a result, the situation turned tense. Meanwhile, during the search at Pratik Jain’s residence, the Deputy Commissioner with a group of officers walked in to verify the identities of ED officials.

Although those officers were present, the investigation was already underway. Earlier this year, the ED conducted raids at 44 locations and recovered ₹14 crore. Therefore, today’s action is a direct continuation of that investigation. We have noticed that several IAS and IPS Officers had also joined the fray.

Investigators also claim that the Shakambari Group paid crores of rupees to I-PAC. Given these financial links, the current raids are neither surprising nor abnormal.

Allegations of Chief Minister during ED vs Mamata tussle

The Chief Minister has alleged that the ED seized secret files related to the party’s candidate list and election strategy during raids at I-PAC owner Pratik Jain’s residence and office.

However, it is difficult to understand why a central agency like ED would conduct searches merely to obtain political strategy documents.

At the same time, the Chief Minister has no clear answer to a far more serious question. Why and how anybody dares to keep official government documents inside that office?

Did IPS officers cross the line in ED vs Mamata fights?

More importantly, several serving IPS officers were present with her. They had taken away those files in a private vehicle belonging to the Trinamool Congress, not a state government vehicle. This raises another troubling issue. How can on-duty police officers participate in such an act? That remains unclear.

The most serious point is this. One serving government officer obstructing another serving government officer in the discharge of duty is a punishable offence. Yet, in this case, the IPS officers failed to maintain the line between the ruling party and the government.

Meanwhile, the ED has moved the court. The outcome will take time. However, allegations against those officers are now inevitable.

When Mamata Banerjee goes against administration

The allegation that the Chief Minister once went to Bhabanipur police station and secured the release of accused persons is not new. It is a long-standing charge.

Later, what happened during the CBI operation at Rajeev Kumar’s residence has now become a legendary episode in political history.

Similarly, when an ED team went to Shahjahan’s house in Sandeshkhali, it faced local resistance and protests. As a result, the team had to return without completing the search. Mamata Banerjee said later that the ED could have informed the local police.

So, it erupted ED vs Mamata rows.

Is ED acting politically?

Now, over the SIR issue, the Chief Minister has repeatedly attacked the Election Commission. Therefore, her near open confrontation with multiple central agencies is slowly becoming a routine political event. However, another truth must also be acknowledged.

The ED and CBI have often acted in a vindictive manner. In fact, the Supreme Court had once described these agencies as “caged parrots.” Moreover, allegations that the central government uses the ED and CBI against opposition leaders are old and widespread.

Will this ED vs Mamata fiasco affect the 2026 election?

It may be too early to assess the full impact of this episode or predict its effect on the 2026 Assembly elections. But this also unfolds a bizarre state of the Mamata Banerjee Administration. She has got so many state agencies in place and the lack of ED raid may seem shocking to her/

However, during the SIR process, ordinary people faced real difficulties. As a result, the Trinamool Congress repeatedly raised public concerns. This helped the Chief Minister gain political advantage.

Now, this fresh controversy between ED and Mamata may slightly weaken that advantage.

In other words, the issue could make the political ground a bit slippery for her going forward.

FAQ

What is I-PACK in this ED vs Mamata?

I-PACK is a political strategist organization. It had come into the limelight during the tenure of Prashant Kishor. The two names almost became synonymous at that point of time. However, it is a non-Government organization, where Pratik Jain is one of the director. Though Mamata Banerjee has said it to be a Government cell, the ROC declines this.

Mamata Banerjee has even said that I-PACK is their IT segment. She has gone to the extent of labeling Pratik Jain as the IT Head.

Latest Update

 January 09, 2026

• The court has adjourned the case on January 14, 2026. The judge could not conduct the proceedings because of chaos in the courtroom.
• Just to remind, ED has filed a PIL against some top officers and Chief Minister. ED has appealed for CBI intervention. Trinamool Congress has also filed a PIL against ED.
• Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress have come down to the street to raise protest against ED.