In a bold move, ED Director Rahul Naveen has called for a detailed report from his teams after West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee reportedly interfered in agency raids on I-PAC premises. The operations, part of an ongoing coal smuggling investigation, targeted the political consultancy’s Salt Lake office and a key executive’s home on January 8.
Arriving on Thursday evening for a three-day oversight tour, Naveen convened a marathon session with Kolkata zonal officers Friday. The agenda covered multiple financial misconduct cases, but the spotlight fell on the I-PAC raids where Banerjee showed up flanked by senior bureaucrats and policemen.
Sources indicate her presence led to delays, with claims that sensitive files and digital evidence were spirited away. I-PAC has been pivotal in Trinamool’s electoral strategies since 2020, making it a focal point in the scam probe.
Naveen probed investigators on the demeanor of state officials during the standoff, emphasizing their conduct and non-verbal cues. He also inquired about the specifics of documents taken, underscoring concerns over evidence tampering.
Consultations with legal experts followed, hinting at stricter measures. This clash highlights the fraught dynamics between ED and state machinery, potentially fueling debates on federalism and investigative autonomy in corruption battles.