. KOLKATA: Alleging violation of ‘right to privacy’, TMC, in its petition against ED before Calcutta HC, said the search and seizure at the office of its political strategist I-PAC and the residence of the firm’s director came after party chief Mamata Banerjee threatened to go to Supreme Court against the chaotic implementation of SIR process, report Subrata Chattoraj and Srishti Lakhotia. The petition stated under the pretext of investigation, ED “unlawfully” gained access to and control over TMC’s electoral roll management, campaign planning, and political strategy, with the intent to disrupt election process.”The entire action is out of political vendetta and to scuttle the democratic process of free and fair upcoming elections,” it stated. The party sought a direction to ED to return “confidential and sensitive” documents seized during the searches, which, according to it, included “political documents relating to campaign strategy, internal assessments, research inputs, organisational coordination, and electoral roll-related data used for electioneering purposes” in the forthcoming Bengal assembly polls. It claimed that these materials had no “nexus” with any scheduled offence or alleged proceeds of crime, and did not fall within the scope of the probe under PMLA. “Such targeted seizure amounts to an impermissible intrusion into TMC’s right to privacy under Article 21 and its constitutional right to participate meaningfully in the democratic process under Article 19.” The petition stated I-PAC, a professional political consulting organisation that provides strategic, research, communications and on-ground campaign support to political parties and their members across India, has been associated with TMC for 6 years, providing end-to-end campaign support. It is “intrinsically” linked with the party in maintaining “crucial, private, confidential and sensitive data”, including that of the upcoming election, it said. ED’s action, TMC said, was in “transgression of its powers and authority” under PMLA. It called the search “a calculative and well planned action to disturb the political atmosphere and scenario in the state”.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCEPA A Win-Win For India And Chile, Key Focus On Market Access And Minerals: Chile EnvoyMamata Banerjee Hits Streets, Leads Kolkata Rally Against ED RaidsAfter Meeting PM Modi, AI Innovators Share Insights That Could Change The GameAmit Shah Outlines Foolproof NIDMS Mechanism To Counter Future Terror AttacksIndia No Longer Imports Arms, UP Leads Defence Manufacturing: Rajnath Singh’Not Accurate’: India Hits Back After Trump Aide Blames PM Modi For Delayed Trade DealMEA Calls For Firm Action As India Flags Disturbing Pattern Of Attacks On Minorities In BangladeshPM Modi To Host German Chancellor Merz In Gujarat As India-Germany Ties Enter Strategic Phase’PM Modi-Trump Held 8 Calls In 2025′: India Rejects Lutnick’s Claim On Stalled Trade AgreementThe Day CBI Arrested Indira Gandhi And Sonia’s Pasta Maker That May Have Saved The Day For Cong123PhotostoriesBirthday special: Hrithik Roshan’s social media moments with Saba Azad and familyBirthday Special: Hrithik Roshan’s movies to watch on OTTTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From calling Dilip Joshi the ‘pillar of the show’ to reacting to Disha Vakani aka Dayaben’s return, Sharad Sankla aka Abdul gets candid7 moon-kissed baby names for your little princessCurry-smelling kangaroos to banana bees: 6 animals that surprisingly smell like foodWhat teachers wish parents understood‘Hum Paanch’, ‘Dekh Bhai Dekh’, ‘Yes Boss’: Top TV comedy shows from the 90What students learn in school beyond the syllabusFrom ‘Highway’ to ‘Chhichhore’: 5 times mainstream films embraced unconventional charactersSadhguru’s Drumstick Soup is a winter must-have; recipe inside123Hot PicksTrump Mexico NewsTrump Denmark NewsGold rate todayBengaluru newsCigarette price hikePublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingCandace OwensTommy Fleetwood and Clare Fleetwood Net WorthTravis KelceVanessa BryantLos Angeles KingsBoston Celtics vs Toronto RaptorsLeBron JamesJa MorantWPL Live ScoreStefon Diggs
KOLKATA: Alleging violation of ‘right to privacy’, TMC, in its petition against ED before Calcutta HC, said the search and seizure at the office of its political strategist I-PAC and the residence of the firm’s director came after party chief Mamata Banerjee threatened to go to Supreme Court against the chaotic implementation of SIR process, report Subrata Chattoraj and Srishti Lakhotia. The petition stated under the pretext of investigation, ED “unlawfully” gained access to and control over TMC’s electoral roll management, campaign planning, and political strategy, with the intent to disrupt election process.”The entire action is out of political vendetta and to scuttle the democratic process of free and fair upcoming elections,” it stated. The party sought a direction to ED to return “confidential and sensitive” documents seized during the searches, which, according to it, included “political documents relating to campaign strategy, internal assessments, research inputs, organisational coordination, and electoral roll-related data used for electioneering purposes” in the forthcoming Bengal assembly polls. It claimed that these materials had no “nexus” with any scheduled offence or alleged proceeds of crime, and did not fall within the scope of the probe under PMLA. “Such targeted seizure amounts to an impermissible intrusion into TMC’s right to privacy under Article 21 and its constitutional right to participate meaningfully in the democratic process under Article 19.” The petition stated I-PAC, a professional political consulting organisation that provides strategic, research, communications and on-ground campaign support to political parties and their members across India, has been associated with TMC for 6 years, providing end-to-end campaign support. It is “intrinsically” linked with the party in maintaining “crucial, private, confidential and sensitive data”, including that of the upcoming election, it said. ED’s action, TMC said, was in “transgression of its powers and authority” under PMLA. It called the search “a calculative and well planned action to disturb the political atmosphere and scenario in the state”.
