An unprecedented political confrontation unfolded in West Bengal on Friday as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a massive street rally in Kolkata, vowing to resist what she described as an assault on democracy, even as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe against her and senior state police officials.

The face-off intensified a day after ED searches at the offices of political strategy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) and the residence of its director, Pratik Jain, spiralled into a pitched political battle. The developments marked a dramatic escalation in the long-running tussle between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government and federal investigative agencies, just months ahead of the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections.

ED Raids Trigger Political Flashpoint

On Thursday morning, ED teams, accompanied by central paramilitary forces, conducted searches at around 10 locations across West Bengal and Delhi, including I-PAC’s Salt Lake office in Kolkata and Jain’s residence on Loudon Street in south Kolkata. The searches were part of an ongoing money laundering probe linked to the alleged coal smuggling racket in West Bengal.

According to the ED, the searches began around 6 am and were proceeding “peacefully” until the chief minister arrived at Jain’s residence at 12.05 pm, accompanied by Kolkata police commissioner Manoj Verma. Banerjee later visited I-PAC’s Salt Lake office at 12.50 pm, this time accompanied by Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar.

Eyewitnesses said tensions flared during the chief minister’s visit, with verbal altercations reported between ED officials and members of Banerjee’s entourage. Several files were removed from the I-PAC office and loaded into a vehicle in the chief minister’s convoy before she left later in the afternoon.

Banerjee accused the ED of illegally seizing sensitive political material, including TMC’s internal documents and data related to the upcoming assembly elections, such as candidate lists. The ED, however, alleged that the chief minister interfered in its lawful operations and forcibly took away evidence.

ED Seeks CBI Probe

In a petition filed before the Calcutta High Court, the ED accused Banerjee of obstructing its search operations, intimidating officers, forcibly removing digital devices and documents, and “hijacking witnesses”. The agency sought a CBI probe into the incident, naming Banerjee, senior state police officials, and others allegedly involved.

According to the petition, which HT reviewed, the ED’s probe into the coal smuggling syndicate—ongoing since 2020—has revealed that proceeds of crime amounting to at least ₹20 crore were allegedly transferred to I-PAC through domestic and international hawala channels.

The ED’s money laundering case is based on a CBI FIR registered in November 2020, alleging illegal coal mining from Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) mines in Kunustoria and Kajora in West Bengal. The syndicate is alleged to have been led by Anup Majee, also known as Lala. The agency has previously questioned TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, alleging that he was a beneficiary of the proceeds generated from illegal mining.

In its petition, the ED claimed that Banerjee, “with the aid of police personnel”, forcibly took possession of digital devices and key incriminating documents during the search, amounting to theft, criminal trespass, destruction of evidence, and wrongful confinement of ED officers.

The agency urged the court to order the immediate seizure and forensic preservation of all devices and documents allegedly taken away, and to direct the CBI to investigate the entire episode.

I-PAC Denies Allegations

I-PAC issued a statement distancing itself from the allegations, asserting that it operates as a professional political consultancy firm without involvement in financial irregularities.

“Our role is limited to transparent and professional political consulting, uninfluenced by differences in political ideology,” the firm said. It added that the raids raised “serious concerns” and set an “unsettling precedent”, while affirming that it was cooperating fully with investigative agencies in accordance with the law.

High Court Proceedings Deferred Amid Chaos

The legal battle took an unusual turn on Friday when the Calcutta High Court postponed hearings on petitions filed by both the ED and Jain’s family. The case came up before a single bench of Justice Suvra Ghosh, who expressed displeasure over the presence of a large number of lawyers unrelated to the matter in the courtroom.

Despite directions to disperse, the crowd remained, prompting the judge to walk out and adjourn the hearing to January 14. Later in the day, the ED appealed to Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, seeking an immediate hearing before another bench. The appeal was rejected after Justice Ghosh formally recorded the adjournment.

Mamata Banerjee Hits the Streets

Even as the legal battle unfolded, Banerjee took to the streets on Friday, leading a massive rally between Jadavpur and Hazra in south Kolkata. Addressing supporters, she launched a sharp attack on the BJP, central investigative agencies, and the Election Commission of India.

“I rise when someone tries to hurt me. Yesterday, it felt like I had come alive,” Banerjee said, accusing the BJP of using federal agencies to target political opponents and alleging attempts to delete genuine voters during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

She asserted that she would not bow to pressure and framed the ED action as an attack on Bengal’s democratic mandate.

State Police Counter-Action

In a swift counter-move, Kolkata Police registered a suo motu case against the ED, along with a separate case based on Banerjee’s email complaint. The FIRs invoked sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to common intention, theft, and criminal trespass, as well as Section 66 of the Information Technology Act concerning computer-related offences.

A similar case was also registered at the Salt Lake Electronic Complex police station, further escalating tensions between the state administration and central agencies.

BJP Reacts Strongly

The BJP hit back sharply, accusing Banerjee of unprecedented interference in the functioning of a federal agency. Party leaders held protests across the state, demanding accountability.

“Why should the chief minister not be arrested for interfering in the operations of a federal agency? India has never witnessed such a thing,” said Bengal BJP vice-president Agnimitra Paul.

The BJP has consistently alleged that the TMC leadership is attempting to shield itself from corruption probes, while Banerjee has countered that central agencies are being weaponised for political vendetta.

A High-Stakes Political Showdown

The standoff underscores the deepening political polarisation in West Bengal as the 2026 assembly elections approach. With the ED pushing for a CBI probe, the state government launching criminal cases against the federal agency, and the high court set to hear the matter next week, the confrontation is far from over.

What began as a financial investigation has now evolved into a full-blown constitutional and political crisis, raising fundamental questions about federalism, the limits of investigative authority, and the role of state power in resisting central intervention.