Mamata's Rally Fury: ED Alleges CM Blocked Raids, Snatched Docs in Coal Scam Probe

New Delhi (India) January 9: On Friday, the confrontation between the Centre and the West Bengal government over the Enforcement Directorate’s raids on the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) and its co-founder Pratik Jain was escalating as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee staged a protest rally on the streets of Kolkata and the BJP accused her of being knee-deep in corruption. 

ED's Court Plea: Mamata Abused Power to Obstruct Raids on I-PAC

In its plea under trial on Friday, the probe agency claimed Banerjee had abused her constitutional power by blocking officials performing their duties during the raids at the I-PAC office and Jain’s house. It also called for an inquiry by the CBI into the issues, including the function of the chief minister. 

Sources also reported the ED had claimed at the time of the raids, which they said were connected to a coal smuggling case, that Banerjee had walked out with a laptop, phone and other documents from Jain's house. 

CM's Z-Category Guards Intimidate ED Team, Harass Witnesses

ED sources also alleged that the incident broke out into a display of strength, with three ED officials encountering police and dozens of Z-category security personnel who are deployed for the Chief Minister. The officers were intimidated and pressured to keep no details of the incident from appearing in the official report, they said. 

The ED also alleged that independent witnesses on site had been harassed and intimidated by Kolkata Police officers and members of the Chief Minister’s staff during the raid. 

6km Rally from Jadavpur to Hazra Against 'Political Vendetta'

Chief Minister Banerjee started the protest campaign with a massive foot rally from the city of Kolkata’s Jadavpur to the crossing of Hazra, 6 km away, to protest the raids. Banerjee took the front with a large set of party leaders and workers in tow behind her and a multitude lining up along the sides of the road behind her.

Mamata Banerjee and other party leaders have accused the BJP of being desperate to win the Bengal elections and going all the way to the end, including with all their resources to do so. 

Banerjee's Bold Admission

Mamata labelled the raid politically motivated, accusing it of violating the constitution and purporting to take party data. She said she was “bringing back” her party’s documents, which she said had no bearing on the ED’s case. 

“They have raided the residence of our IT chief. They were confiscating my party’s documents and hard disks, which has details about our candidates for the assembly polls. I have brought those back,” she said.