ED raid on I-PAC offices | Mamata's dramatic 'intervention'; probe agency moves High Court, says CM removed evidence

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday said raid at the I-PAC office in Kolkata was conducted in connection with an illegal coal smuggling case and also alleged 'interference during its search operations'.

The agency has moved the Calcutta High Court in this regard. ED has filed a case citing obstruction and hindrance to the investigation during the raids. The matter is scheduled to be heard by Justice Suvra Ghosh on Friday.

The agency added that searches were being conducted in 10 locations, including six in West Bengal and four in Delhi.

Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached the home of head of TMC IT cell, Prateek Jain, whose residence was also raided by the ED.

The central agency later added that Banerjee entered Pratik Jain's residence, took away key evidence including physical documents, electronic devices.

The chief minister alleged that ED officials were attempting to seize TMC’s hard disks, internal documents and sensitive organisational data.

Banerjee also termed the search an act of intimidation, while accusing Amit Shah as being the "nastiest home minister"

However, the investigation agency said the search covers various premises linked to the generation of cash and hawala transfer in the coal smuggling case.

"No party office has been searched. The search is not linked to any elections and is part of a regular crackdown on money laundering," the ED said.

"The search is conducted strictly in accordance with established legal safeguards. Certain persons, including constitutional functionaries, have come to 2 premises (out of 10), intruded illegally by misusing their position and snatched away the documents," the agency added.