Post by : Meena Ariff

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday made serious allegations against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, claiming she interfered with an ongoing money laundering investigation linked to an alleged coal smuggling network in the state. According to the federal agency, Banerjee entered the residence of a political consultant during a raid and removed crucial evidence, including documents and electronic devices.

In an official statement, the ED said the incident took place during search operations conducted at multiple locations in West Bengal and Delhi. The searches were part of a long-running investigation that originated from a 2020 case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into an alleged coal smuggling syndicate. The network is reportedly led by Anup Majhi, also known as “Lala,” who is accused of illegally mining and stealing coal from Eastern Coalfields’ leasehold areas near Asansol in West Bengal’s Paschim Bardhaman district.

The ED alleged that during the raid at the Kolkata residence of Pratik Jain, co-founder of a political consultancy firm and a senior leader associated with the ruling party’s IT wing, the chief minister arrived with a large police contingent. The agency claimed that Banerjee took away key evidence from the premises while the search was still in progress.

The probe agency further stated that Banerjee later went to the consultancy firm’s office in the Salt Lake area of Kolkata, where she, along with her aides and state police officials, allegedly removed additional physical records and electronic devices. The ED described these actions as a major obstruction to its investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

According to the ED, the searches were being carried out in a “peaceful and professional manner” before the chief minister’s arrival. The agency also claimed that a hawala operator connected to the coal smuggling operation had facilitated transactions involving tens of crores of rupees to the consultancy firm, alleging financial links that are now under scrutiny.

Responding to possible political allegations, the ED clarified that the investigation is evidence-based and not aimed at any political party or election process. It stressed that no party office was searched and that the action forms part of a routine crackdown on money laundering activities, conducted strictly within legal frameworks.

The developments have added a fresh layer of political and legal tension in West Bengal, as the allegations are likely to spark sharp reactions and further debate in the days ahead.

#Asia News