Kolkata, January 9, 2026: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday spearheaded a high-profile protest march in Kolkata against the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) raids at the residence and offices of I-PAC chief Pratik Jain, drawing attention to what she described as the central government’s misuse of investigative agencies for political purposes.

The march, attended by a large contingent of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, ministers, Members of Parliament, MLAs, and supporters, commenced from the 8B Bus Stand area, progressing towards Hazra More amid spirited sloganeering against the BJP-led central government. Banerjee and her party members accused the Centre of attempting to interfere in state politics ahead of the 2026 assembly elections by targeting key individuals and organisations linked to the TMC.

The protest comes in the wake of a dramatic incident on Thursday, when Mamata Banerjee personally visited Jain’s residence on Loudon Street during an ED search operation. During the visit, she alleged that the agency sought to seize internal party documents, hard disks, and confidential organisational data that had no relevance to the financial investigation being conducted. Videos from the march and previous events have circulated widely on social media, highlighting the intensity of the standoff between the state leadership and central authorities.

“The ED is overstepping its mandate and attempting to target our party’s internal communications, hard disks, and confidential information unrelated to any financial investigation,” Banerjee claimed, emphasising that the searches were politically motivated.

TMC MPs Detained in Delhi

The confrontation with central agencies has also extended to New Delhi. Earlier on Friday, several TMC MPs, including Mahua Moitra and Derek O’Brien, were detained outside the office of Union Home Minister Amit Shah while protesting against the ED raids on I-PAC’s chief. Mamata Banerjee condemned the action, terming it “arrogance in uniform” and a violation of democratic norms.

“I strongly condemn the shameful and unacceptable treatment meted out to our Members of Parliament. Dragging elected representatives on the streets for exercising their democratic right to protest is not law enforcement – it is arrogance in uniform. This is a democracy, not the BJP’s private property,” Banerjee wrote on X, articulating her criticism of the Centre’s handling of the protest.

The MPs had staged a demonstration to demand an end to what the TMC described as politically motivated harassment of state leadership and party associates. Delhi Police reportedly forcefully evicted the TMC leaders, with some MPs being physically carried away by police personnel, further intensifying tensions between the central government and the Trinamool Congress.

Allegations of Political Vendetta

Banerjee’s protest and public statements underscore the TMC’s narrative that central investigative agencies are being deployed as instruments of political intimidation in the run-up to the 2026 assembly elections. The Chief Minister has consistently framed the ED raids as part of a larger effort to disrupt the party’s organisational activities and influence electoral outcomes.

The I-PAC raids have been linked to a broader investigation by the ED into alleged financial irregularities and hawala transactions connected to coal smuggling. While the ED has maintained that its actions are purely investigative and law-based, Mamata Banerjee and the TMC assert that the search operations target sensitive party data and internal communications, exceeding the scope of financial investigations.

Public Response and Political Implications

The protest has drawn significant media attention, both in West Bengal and nationally, highlighting the political friction between the state government led by the TMC and the Centre governed by the BJP. Supporters and party workers rallied behind Mamata Banerjee, chanting slogans denouncing the central government and accusing it of misusing statutory agencies for electoral advantage.

Observers note that such incidents could escalate tensions ahead of the assembly polls, with the TMC positioning itself as a defender of democratic norms and regional autonomy. By leading protests personally, Mamata Banerjee reinforces her political visibility and authority in the state while signalling defiance against what she perceives as central overreach.

Next Steps

The TMC has indicated that it will continue protests both in Kolkata and Delhi, seeking accountability for the treatment of its MPs and demanding that the ED cease actions perceived as politically motivated. Meanwhile, central authorities, including the ED, are maintaining that the raids are conducted under legal provisions and are aimed at investigating alleged money laundering and financial crimes.

As the situation develops, the standoff between state and central authorities is likely to remain a focal point in Indian politics, particularly as West Bengal approaches the 2026 assembly elections, with heightened scrutiny on the role of investigative agencies and their engagement with political entities.

---