CM’s visit to I-PAC chief’s home interference: Suvendu
Times of India | 9 January 2026
Kolkata: Bengal leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari called CM Mamata Banerjee's visit to I-PAC chief Pratik Jain's Loudon Street home during an Enforcement Directorate (ED) search on Thursday "unethical, unconstitutional and direct interference in the central agency's work".
"I feel that the CM and Kolkata Police commissioner's visit was unethical, unconstitutional and direct interference in the central agency's investigation. A wrong message will reach the people of this state if the central agency does not take any action against the CM as per law," said Adhikari.
Reacting to the CM's call for a "search" at BJP offices, Adhikari said: "I challenge the CM to search BJP offices; they will not find anything like the cash recovered from one neta's associate's house. If a search happens at the CM's house, at least Rs 100 crore will be recovered."
Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya accused the CM of misusing the influence of her rank to shield those involved in scams.
"Using her power, the CM snatched documents and hard disks seized by the ED at the I-PAC office into her own custody. The ED did not snatch those back. If it did so, it would look bad, and this is not expected in a democracy. Though I or BJP is not the spokesperson of ED, I have come to know that ED carried out the search as per law and the CM obstructed them," he said.
Bhattacharya added that the "hurdles posed by the CM prove her party's involvement in corruption and that she is trying to protect the accused".
"She unjustifiably attacked India's home minister and defence minister to obscure the investigation process, which is unprecedented. Interference in an investigation directed by the court is both contempt of court and akin to attacking officials on duty and destroying evidence. Such unauthorised interference in criminal investigations and judicial processes cannot be accepted by a healthy society. Despite the CM's constitutional status, her actions tarnished the honour of West Bengal. The people of West Bengal are likely to understand this issue and reflect it in the upcoming elections," Bhattacharya said.