Mahua Moitra along with other TMC leaders protested outside Amit Shah’s residence (ANI image) NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Friday accused the Centre of misusing central agencies after she was detained by Delhi police while protesting outside union home minister Amit Shah’s office against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on political consultancy firm I-PAC in Kolkata.Reacting after her detention, Moitra alleged that the ED was being used to target political opponents and steal sensitive electoral information. “You have seen how the government is using the ED as their agency to steal information, election strategy of their political opponents. ED was sent to the office of our political consultant for dacoity of information. They are talking about some 7–8 years old coal scam; you didn’t get time to gather information in all these years. Mamata Banerjee showed how to fight against them. People of Bengal will teach them a lesson,” she said.Earlier, as she and other TMC MPs including Derek O’ Brien were taken away by police, Moitra posted on X, claiming force was used during the detention. “Amit Shah’s cops dragging us in police vans to police station. Bring it on BJP Bengalis — you’ll be eaten by the Bengal Tigress, Mamata Banerjee,” she wrote.Speaking to reporters, Moitra also objected to the detention of protesters, stating, “Even here, we are protesting peacefully, yet you can see how we are being picked up — every time, you see it for yourself, how they drag us away.”TMC MP Kirti Azad in a post on X wrote, “Detained at Parliament Street Police Station. No FIR has been registered so far. We have not been told the reason for the same. No senior officer is available. If this is what is happening to elected members of Parliament, we can understand what must be the plight of a common man.” Meanwhile, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad defended the ED raids, drawing parallels with the fodder scam investigation involving RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.Addressing a press conference Prasad said, “This raid is similar to the one during the fodder scam case against Lalu Prasad. He was later arrested, but he never stormed the CBI office as Mamata Banerjee did. What link does Mamata have with that firm?”The protest followed ED searches at multiple locations linked to I-PAC in Kolkata on Thursday, including the residence of its chief, Pratik Jain. I-PAC provides political consultancy services to the TMC and manages parts of the party’s IT and media operations.Meanwhile, the TMC on Friday moved the Calcutta High Court seeking restraint on the “misuse and dissemination” of documents and data seized during the ED searches. The party has termed the raids politically motivated and aimed at intimidating it ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections. CM Banerjee further alleged that party documents, hard disks and sensitive data were being seized under the guise of an investigation. Questioning the role of the ED and Amit Shah, Banerjee said, “Is it the duty of the ED, Amit Shah to collect the party’s hard disk, candidate list?… The nasty, naughty Home Minister who cannot protect the country and is taking away all my party documents. What will be the result if I raid the BJP party office?”She also linked the agency action to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal, alleging that voter names were being deleted ahead of the polls.“On one side, they are deleting the names of all the voters by carrying out the SIR in West Bengal…Because of the elections, they are collecting all the information about my party,” she said. Banerjee further dared the BJP to fight the TMC politically if it wanted to win Bengal.About the AuthorTOI World DeskAt TOI World Desk, our dedicated team of seasoned journalists and passionate writers tirelessly sifts through the vast tapestry of global events to bring you the latest news and diverse perspectives round the clock. With an unwavering commitment to accuracy, depth, and timeliness, we strive to keep you informed about the ever-evolving world, delivering a nuanced understanding of international affairs to our readers. Join us on a journey across continents as we unravel the stories that shape our interconnected world.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosJaishankar Sends ‘Bad Neighbour’ Pakistan On Anti-India Rant Again, Calls Operation Sindoor Reckless’No Call From PM Modi’: Trump Aide Lutnick’s Shocker On India-US Trade Deal Amid Tariff Threats‘India Can Balance A Chaotic World’: French President Macron On BRICS, Multipolarity, Power Politics‘India Will Not Be Anybody’s Vassal’: French President Macron’s Remark During Jaishankar MeetMeet Tina Shah, The Indian American Doctor Running For US Congress in New Jersey Democratic RaceBJP Targets Mamata Banerjee Over ED Raid At I-PAC, Alleges Evidence TamperingFrom Op Sindoor To Venezuela: How Chinese Air Defence And Radar Systems Continue To Fail NationsDipu Das Lynching: Bangladesh Police Arrest Man Who Incited Mob As Attacks Against Hindus ContinueFrance Ditches Global South, Collective West As Jaishankar Warns Europe Of Changing World Order’Naughty, Nasty HM’: Mamata Slams Amit Shah After ED Raids TMC Leader Amid SIR Row123PhotostoriesYour Birth Date Is Not Random—It Holds a Dark TruthTara Sutaria and Veer Pahariya reportedly part ways after one year? 5 times the couple proved that style never fadesHow to make Kolhapuri Chicken Curry for lunchMahhi Vij addresses divorce with Jay Bhanushali: ‘It didn’t work out but he has not run away from the responsibility of our kids’Katrina Kaif, Shah Rukh Khan to Kareena Kapoor: Bollywood stars who danced to songs bearing their namesFired from work? 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Mahua Moitra along with other TMC leaders protested outside Amit Shah’s residence (ANI image) NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Friday accused the Centre of misusing central agencies after she was detained by Delhi police while protesting outside union home minister Amit Shah’s office against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on political consultancy…
