NEW DELHI: Investigation against I-PAC continued with Enforcement Directorate taking a review meeting in Kolkata Wednesday in presence of agency’s director Rahul Navin amid indications that the political consultancy’s chief Pratik Jain will be summoned for questioning soon after statements of his other associates have been recorded.ED is keen on pressing its “destruction-of-evidence” charge against West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and officials of the state govt. It has video grabs of the CM and her aides allegedly taking away documents and digital devices from the premises of I-PAC on Jan 8 when it was being searched by the central probe agency in connection with a coal smuggling case, which can be used in a separate case of destruction of evidence.I-PAC is under investigation for suspected laundering of unaccounted cash regarding which a few hawala dealers have also been questioned and their statements recorded by the agency.Banerjee has been made respondent No 2 in ED’s criminal writ petition before Supreme Court demanding action against those indulging in obstruction of its Jan 8 search operation. SC has already issued notices to the CM and her officers, including the state DGP Rajeev Kumar, respondent No 3, commissioner of Kolkata Police Manoj Verma, respondent No 4, Priyabrata Roy, DCP South Kolkata and CBI. The ED’s plea has also made Union home secretary and DoPT secretary besides Bengal’s chief secretary other respondents in the case, which has been scheduled for next hearing in the apex court in the first week of Feb.The ED’s money laundering probe is linked to its coal scam case in which the prime accused Anup Majee is accused of illegally excavating coal from ECL leasehold areas of West Bengal and selling them to factories/plants located in Bankura, Bardhhaman, Purulia and other districts of Bengal.In a press release issued immediately afterwards its search and seizure operation was disrupted by Banerjee and senior state officials, the anti-money laundering agency said it had visited I-PAC’s office to follow up its finding that “one hawala operator linked to layering of proceeds of crime of coal smuggling had facilitated transactions of tens of crores of rupees to Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC)”.The agency said the search covered persons linked to generation of coal smuggling proceeds, hawala operators and handlers. “I-PAC is also one of the entities linked to hawala money,” it added.“Ms Banerjee entered residential premises of Pratik Jain and took away evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices. The CM’s convoy then proceeded to I-PAC’s office premises, from where Ms Banerjee, her aides, and state police personnel forcibly removed physical documents, electronic evidence,” it claimed.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos“Makes No Sense…” Ex-US Army Officer Slams Trump Over India-US RelationsUK, EU FTAs to Unlock New Export Opportunities for Assam Tea: Himanta Sarma’Rupture In World Order’: EU Blasts Trump Over ‘Bullying’; Danish MP Fires Shock Message For US PresOperation Prahar: Punjab Police Raid Locations Linked to 60 Foreign GangstersIndia Will Surpass Japan To Become 3rd Largest Economy: Gita Gopinath At World Economic Forum 2026Democracy Took Roots In India In 600 BC, Long Before The World: CEC Gyanesh KumarExplained: Why India-EU ‘Mother Of All Deals’ Matters As Trade Talks Enter Final High Stakes PhasePakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Inaugurates Fake Pizza Hut Outlet, Trolled on Social Media’Influencers, AI And Deepfakes’: Indian Army Exposes Pakistan’s Digital War During Operation SindoorIndus Waters Flashpoint: Pakistan Cries Crisis At UN As India Hardens Terror Stance Post Pahalgam123Photostories’Dhurandhar 2 – The Revenge’: A quick recap of Part 1 before Ranveer Singh’s teaser dropsFrom ‘Naagzilla’ to ‘The Odyssey’: The much-awaited fantasy movies releasing in 2026How to make Dhaba-Style Amritsari Paneer Bhurji for dinner at homeNot just the Beckhams: 5 famous family feuds that shocked the worldUnseen gems: Rare photos of Rajesh KhannaLaughter Chefs Season 3 to bring major changes: OG Arjun Bijlani, Ankita Lokhande–Vicky Jain return as Team Kaanta vs Churi endsJapanese Ambassador relishes biryani with bare hands: 6 times global leaders have shown love for Indian food10 Asian cities with the longest commute time to work2 Indian chicken dishes among top 17 in the worldDaily practices you can do for planetary balance123Hot PicksSilver price todayBudget 2026Karnataka DGP ScandalGold price predictionNitin NabinPublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingMatthew StaffordTravis KelceDonald Trump PlaneUdaipur Car AccidentJonathan KumingaCandace OwensDonna KelceJohn Harbaughs WifeKlay ThompsonsAshwini Vaishnaw
NEW DELHI: Investigation against I-PAC continued with Enforcement Directorate taking a review meeting in Kolkata Wednesday in presence of agency’s director Rahul Navin amid indications that the political consultancy’s chief Pratik Jain will be summoned for questioning soon after statements of his other associates have been recorded.ED is keen on pressing its “destruction-of-evidence” charge against West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and officials of the state govt. It has video grabs of the CM and her aides allegedly taking away documents and digital devices from the premises of I-PAC on Jan 8 when it was being searched by the central probe agency in connection with a coal smuggling case, which can be used in a separate case of destruction of evidence.I-PAC is under investigation for suspected laundering of unaccounted cash regarding which a few hawala dealers have also been questioned and their statements recorded by the agency.Banerjee has been made respondent No 2 in ED’s criminal writ petition before Supreme Court demanding action against those indulging in obstruction of its Jan 8 search operation. SC has already issued notices to the CM and her officers, including the state DGP Rajeev Kumar, respondent No 3, commissioner of Kolkata Police Manoj Verma, respondent No 4, Priyabrata Roy, DCP South Kolkata and CBI. The ED’s plea has also made Union home secretary and DoPT secretary besides Bengal’s chief secretary other respondents in the case, which has been scheduled for next hearing in the apex court in the first week of Feb.The ED’s money laundering probe is linked to its coal scam case in which the prime accused Anup Majee is accused of illegally excavating coal from ECL leasehold areas of West Bengal and selling them to factories/plants located in Bankura, Bardhhaman, Purulia and other districts of Bengal.In a press release issued immediately afterwards its search and seizure operation was disrupted by Banerjee and senior state officials, the anti-money laundering agency said it had visited I-PAC’s office to follow up its finding that “one hawala operator linked to layering of proceeds of crime of coal smuggling had facilitated transactions of tens of crores of rupees to Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC)”.The agency said the search covered persons linked to generation of coal smuggling proceeds, hawala operators and handlers. “I-PAC is also one of the entities linked to hawala money,” it added.“Ms Banerjee entered residential premises of Pratik Jain and took away evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices. The CM’s convoy then proceeded to I-PAC’s office premises, from where Ms Banerjee, her aides, and state police personnel forcibly removed physical documents, electronic evidence,” it claimed.
