I-PAC, TMC in HC against ED, agency also moves court
Times of India | 9 January 2026
Kolkata: The I-PAC and Trinamool Congress dragged the ED to Calcutta High Court, questioning its searches. Multiple complaints were also submitted to cops.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) on Thursday approached the Calcutta High Court, questioning the legality of the searches conducted by the Enforcement Directorate at I-PAC chief Prateek Jain's residence on Loudon Street and I-PAC's Sector-V office.
Both will be mentioned before Justice Suvra Ghosh on Friday. This development comes along with the ED also approaching the same bench, citing ‘obstructions' caused during their searches.
In the petition filed by TMC, the respondents, as per the details on the HC website, are the Union govt, ED and I-PAC. According to sources, the claims made in the petition concern confidential information regarding SIR-related work, booth level agents and documents relating to the upcoming 2026 Bengal Assembly election.
I-PAC, which does political consultancy for Trinamool, also looks after its IT and media cell. Meanwhile, the Shakespeare Sarani PS may file a suo motu case against central agency ED and the central force CRPF for allegedly obstructing police work.
On Thursday morning, ED searched Jain's office and residence in connection with the coal scam. During the search, a verbal altercation occurred between the central forces and cops from the Shakespeare Sarani PS, right outside Jain's residence. The central forces primarily requested police to stay outside the main gate, leading to a confrontation.
The second case may be filed by Jain's family. They alleged that the agency forcibly detained all family members. Also, ED could be accused of entering the residence or private space without any notice.
The Electronic Complex PS is another entity prepared to file a suo motu case against ED and CRPF. Since I-PAC's office is in Sector V, they might file a case opposing the ED's operation for not informing the local PS. The ED has already criticised Kolkata Police for ‘overactivity'.