Just a few days ago, West Bengal’s politics was rocked by the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) raids on the residence of Pratik Jain, the head of I-PAC, and his office in connection with a coal smuggling case. The matter has already reached the Supreme Court. Amid this, the Director of the Enforcement Directorate, Rahul Navin, arrived in Kolkata and held high-level meetings on Friday. The timing of his visit is critical, as the apex court is set to hear the “I-PAC obstruction case” on February 3.

Rahul Navin reportedly discussed important issues such as sand and coal smuggling, and the SSC (School Service Commission) case with senior and top ED officials. Furthermore, it is reported that the meetings also covered the current status of these cases.

The ED Director arrived in Kolkata on Thursday night. Following this, he held several high-level meetings at the CGO Complex from Friday morning onwards. It is reported that Rahul Navin inquired in detail about the ‘high-profile’ cases under investigation by the ED in Kolkata. Sources say that he specifically discussed the current status of the sand smuggling, coal smuggling, and SSC cases with top officials in Kolkata.

Moreover, the Kolkata ED officials are handling an important Sahara case, and discussions were held regarding the progress of that investigation. It is also reported that the Director discussed with the Kolkata ED officials the progress of various cases in the judicial system and which cases have already had charge sheets filed.

It is worth noting that a few days ago, the Enforcement Directorate raided Pratik Jain’s residence and the I-PAC office in connection with an old coal smuggling case from Delhi. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was present during the raid and accused the ED of trying to steal her election strategy. A case was initially filed in the Calcutta High Court regarding this matter. Currently, the hearing of this case is underway in the Supreme Court. The arrival of ED Director Rahul Navin in Kolkata and his series of meetings with officials before the Supreme Court hearing is considered highly significant.

The I-PAC controversy: Enforcement Directorate (ED) vs Mamata Banerjee

The investigation into I-PAC is officially linked to a 2020 coal smuggling case. The ED alleges that a hawala operator facilitated transactions worth tens of crores to the consultancy firm. The current tension stems from a dramatic confrontation on January 8, 2026, when ED officials raided the premises of Pratik Jain, a co-founder of I-PAC and a key strategist for the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

The raid took an unprecedented turn when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at Pratik Jain’s residence while the search was still in progress. Flanked by senior police officials, the Chief Minister was seen exiting the premises carrying files and a green folder.

The ED moved the Supreme Court, accusing the Chief Minister and the state police of “gross obstruction of justice.” They allege that “key evidence,” including digital devices and physical documents, was forcibly removed, effectively derailing a lawful investigation.

Mamata Banerjee has fiercely defended the move, claiming the ED was attempting to “steal” internal party data, candidate lists, and election strategies for the upcoming 2026 Assembly polls. She characterized the raid as a “political vendetta” orchestrated by the Union Home Ministry.

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