Political tensions in West Bengal have intensified over the Enforcement Directorate’s actions, with the Bharatiya Janata Party alleging interference by the Mamata Banerjee government in the agency’s investigation. The matter is currently under consideration before the Supreme Court, where hearings are ongoing on a petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate.
The dispute centres on a petition submitted by the Enforcement Directorate to the Supreme Court, in which the agency has alleged that senior officials of the West Bengal government obstructed search operations at the Kolkata office of political consultancy firm I-PAC and at the residence of its director, Prateek Jain.
The Enforcement Directorate has claimed that the role of police officials during the search operation was questionable and that the agency was not allowed to carry out its duties properly. On this basis, the agency has also sought the suspension of West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself reached the site during the operation, which, according to the party, further complicated the situation. The party has stated that the I-PAC office is neither a Trinamool Congress office nor the residence of an elected representative, and that the Chief Minister’s presence there affected the investigation process.
Speaking to the media in New Delhi, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad criticised the Mamata Banerjee government, alleging that the police in West Bengal have become an instrument of the ruling party. He alleged that law and order in the state is being run according to political interests rather than constitutional principles, and described the situation as dangerous for democracy.
Ravi Shankar Prasad also alleged that the convoy of Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, was attacked in the presence of the police. He claimed that attempts were made to file a first information report following the incident, but the police did not register a case. He described this as unfortunate and alleged that the state machinery was being used to suppress the voice of the opposition.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has further claimed that the entire police administration in West Bengal is under the control of the Chief Minister, and that law enforcement agencies are being used for unconstitutional and undemocratic activities.
The West Bengal government has rejected the allegations. The state government has filed objections before the Supreme Court, stating that no order should be passed in connection with the Enforcement Directorate’s action at the I-PAC office without hearing the state government’s side.
