Why big ED Action Panic Bengal Politics?

Jan 14, 2026 - By Ashutosh Roy Politics

Key Highlights

1. On 8th January, a rare and dramatic incident shook West Bengal politics.
2. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at the home and office of Pratik Jain, the head of I-PAC.
3. During the operation, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with senior police officers and top bureaucrats, allegedly reached the spot.
4. They obstructed the raid, intimidated ED officials, and reportedly took away files, hard disks, and mobile phones.
5. On 9th January, the matter reached the Calcutta High Court. However, due to chaos and disruptions in the courtroom, the irritated judge adjourned the hearing.
6. Following this, the ED approached the Supreme Court. It filed serious allegations against the Chief Minister and senior police officials.
7. In its appeal, the ED requested the court to direct the CBI to register an FIR and investigate the incident.
8. Now, the big question remains: Will the ED pursue this case firmly, or will it go soft like many previous cases?
9. If the ED acts decisively, the Trinamool Congress could face a major political crisis.
10. But if the ED shows leniency, the BJP may lose credibility at the state level.
11. This single incident has the potential to become a decisive factor in West Bengal politics ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
12. Will the Trinamool Congress be able to surmount all allegations against it before the final vote?

Why Did ED’s Move Trigger a Political Shockwave in Bengal Politics?

The ED raid at the residence of I-PAC founder Pratik Jain and the events that followed are well known to everyone. However, instead of repeating known facts, we should focus on a more important question. What impact can this development have on Bengal politics? That deserves deeper discussion.

Moreover, we must remember one crucial thing. This entire debate must be viewed in the context of the 2026 Assembly elections.

How Rare Is an FIR Against a Sitting CM?

For the sake of clarity, one point must be stated clearly. The ED has approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to file an FIR against the Chief Minister and the DGP.

Moreover, since this is a scheduled offence, the ED has also requested a CBI investigation. The allegation is extremely serious. This is because filing an FIR against a sitting Chief Minister or a top police official is rare. It may not be unprecedented, but it is certainly unusual.

Earlier, the ED did not hesitate to send Hemant Soren or Arvind Kejriwal to jail.

Later, Mamata Banerjee told the media that she went there as the leader of the Trinamool Congress. However, the presence of a large contingent of police and senior bureaucrats raises serious questions.

Meanwhile, during a discussion on India Today, senior advocate Manu Singhvi made a similar argument. He also stated that Mamata Banerjee visited the site in her capacity as the Trinamool leader. Now, the key issue remains. It is up to the court to decide how it views this matter.

What Do Past ED Cases Tell Us?

Now the key question is this. Will the ED act decisively this time, or will the case move at a snail’s pace like many others?  Therefore, the current silence raises doubts. Meanwhile, political circles continue to speculate. Many believe that before elections, the Centre often signals agencies like the CBI and ED to act aggressively against opposition leaders.

In fact, the Supreme Court has repeatedly reprimanded these agencies. Moreover, the ED holds a powerful weapon in the form of the PMLA, which leaves room for misuse. On top of that, the ED’s conviction rate remains extremely low.

For whatever reason, such harsh action against top leadership in West Bengal has never been seen before. As a result, the CPM and the Congress have described this situation as a “setting theory” in Bengal Politics.

How Serious Are the Allegations Against TMC?

Now, let us look at Mamata Banerjee’s role more closely. Earlier, she sat on a protest against the CBI at Rajeev Kumar’s residence. However, during that incident, police from Shakespeare Sarani police station allegedly detained CBI officers and took them away.

Later, in the Narada case, the CBI arrested four senior leaders, including Firhad Hakim. At that time, Mamata Banerjee went straight to the CBI office. She staged a sit-in protest there for nearly four hours. Importantly, in both these incidents, there was no direct allegation against Mamata Banerjee.

However, the Pratik Jain case is different. Here, Mamata Banerjee herself is an accused. Moreover, she openly told television cameras that she was taking the file and the mobile phone with her. In addition, CCTV footage and the ED’s own video recordings are reportedly available. Therefore, this incident is completely different from the previous two.

Can Courts Restore Institutional Credibility?

The ED has also complained about the chaotic situation at the Calcutta High Court. According to the agency, WhatsApp messages were exchanged. As a result, chaos was allegedly created inside the court premises.

Moreover, the ED informed the Supreme Court of another serious concern. It claimed that the Trinamool Congress, as a party, is capable of creating disorder even in court. The alleged goal was to delay the legal proceedings.

Meanwhile, questions remain unanswered. Who advised Trinamool ministers and Mamata Banerjee’s close aide Chandrima Bhattacharya to be present there that day? Only those involved know the answer. However, one thing is clear. Their presence is likely to work against them in court.

Knee-jerk reaction of Mamata Banerjee in Bengal Politics

Mamata Banerjee’s knee-jerk reaction that day is clearly going against her. There is no doubt about it. There is a saying: when destruction approaches, wisdom fades. Whether the 2026 election will mark the downfall of the Trinamool Congress remains a question for the future.

However, many great thinkers have given the same advice. Never take decisions in anger. On that day, Mamata Banerjee went to the site and forcefully took away documents and items. As a result, she may now have to pay the price herself.

Moreover, she did not act alone. She brought along several senior bureaucrats and top police officials. Even if Mamata manages to escape legal trouble as the Trinamool leader, the situation is different for these officers. What will happen to the IPS and IAS officers remains uncertain. After all, they know very well that obstructing official duty or issuing threats is a serious offence.

Can ED Afford to Step Back?

Politics is the art of possibilities. Suppose the ED steps back this time. Or suppose it avoids taking any strong action. In that case, the so-called “setting theory” will gain fresh credibility.

As a result, the ED will face an even deeper crisis of credibility. Its public trust is already declining. Therefore, its very relevance may come under question.

Will BJP Pay the Political Price This Time in Bengal Politics?

Moreover, in the public mind, the ED and the BJP have become synonymous. So, the BJP will have to pay the political price. This period is extremely crucial. After all, the 2026 election is now close. So, it will create a whirlwind in Bengal Politics.

Therefore, if the ED retreats again, the BJP may virtually disappear from West Bengal. Questions have already emerged about the central leadership’s commitment to opposing Mamata Banerjee. If the party fails once more, people in Bengal will lose faith in the BJP completely.

However, this time, there is at least some political momentum in the BJP’s favour. That said, the reasons and the context behind this momentum are entirely different.

Can TMC Survive Leadership Turmoil Before 2026?

Now, let us examine what could happen to the Trinamool Congress. If the investigation against Mamata Banerjee continues without any arrest, it is difficult to predict its immediate impact.

However, the situation will change dramatically if Mamata Banerjee is arrested for any reason. The consequences would be even more severe if Abhishek Banerjee, the party’s top leader in the coal scam case, is arrested. Such a development could prove disastrous for the party.

At present, internal factionalism within the Trinamool Congress has reached a critical level. In such a short time, finding leaders capable of keeping the party united will be extremely difficult. As a result, the impact will almost certainly be felt in the 2026 elections.

Are IAS and IPS Officers Now at Risk?

Meanwhile, if the IPS or IAS officers involved face only departmental inquiries, the effect may not be visible immediately. However, no one can say for sure that their fate will not resemble that of Alapan Bandyopadhyay. After all, regardless of everything else, these officers remain under the Centre’s authority.

What Changed in Bengal Politics on Jan 8?

The events of January 8 suddenly changed the entire focus of political rhetoric in West Bengal. As a result, the much-discussed SIR issue has now moved to the background.

For the past few years, discussions on development in Bengal have almost disappeared. People rarely hear anything about growth or governance.

However, this time, the ED’s role has become the driving force of West Bengal’s political narrative.