'Theft Of Confidential TMC Data': Mamata Banerjee's Allegation Against ED In I-PAC Searches Row

Last Updated:February 03, 2026, 10:46 IST

Mamata Banerjee alleges ED stole Trinamool data during I-PAC raids. In a fresh affidavit, she defends Pratik Jain, and claims political motives behind the action.

A file photo of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (PTI)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has levelled grave allegations against the Enforcement Directorate in a counter affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, accusing agency officials of committing “theft of confidential political data" belonging to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) under the cover of a “pretextual search" at the premises of political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC).

In the affidavit accessed exclusively by CNN-News18, Banerjee claimed that ED teams visited I-PAC locations only briefly and solely to retrieve sensitive campaign-related material of the ruling party, without genuinely carrying out the agency’s stated search operations.

She asserted that such actions were not part of a bona fide investigation but were instead directed at accessing proprietary political data.

The Chief Minister also mounted a strong defence of I-PAC and its chief, Pratik Jain, stating that the ED has not disclosed any concrete “reasons to believe" linking either to alleged proceeds of crime.

In her filing, she argued that the Section 17 search warrants invoked by the central agency were “mechanical and invalid," contending that they failed to meet statutory requirements and were issued without proper application of mind.

Banerjee further alleged that the actions of the agency fit into what she described as a recurring pattern of cases being pursued or revived ahead of elections, implying political motivation behind investigative steps taken against opposition-linked entities.

The affidavit comes against the backdrop of the Kolkata Police initiating a probe following Banerjee’s complaints over the ED searches at Jain’s Loudon Street residence and I-PAC’s Salt Lake office.

During their searches, officers from the Shakespeare Sarani police station had collected CCTV camera footage and DVR recordings from Jain’s home and recorded statements of household staff and security personnel.

Another police team visited the consultancy firm’s office to gather evidence and speak to guards and other witnesses present during the raids.

Banerjee had lodged two complaints against unknown ED officials and personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force, following which FIRs were registered by Kolkata and Bidhannagar police.

The cases were filed under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita dealing with criminal intimidation, theft and trespass, as well as under Section 66 of the Information Technology Act, which covers computer-related offences such as unauthorised access to data.

Police officials had alleged the ED conducted a search at Jain’s residence early in the morning, but informed local authorities several hours later via email.

When senior officers subsequently reached the premises, they were allegedly obstructed and prevented from examining search warrants, with claims that central force personnel raised batons to block entry.

Investigators also sought CCTV footage from the building housing Jain’s apartment for forensic examination, describing it as potential evidence to verify the conduct of the agency’s personnel during the operation.

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