‘Theft’ at I-PAC properties: KP starts probe against ED
Times of India | 11 January 2026
Kolkata: Kolkata Police on Saturday started the process of identifying Enforcement Directorate officials and CAPF personnel allegedly involved in the "theft of documents" from the Loudon Street residence of I-PAC chief Pratik Jain and the consultancy firm's office at Sector V, as alleged by CM Mamata Banerjee, who lodged two separate FIRs in this regard at Shakespeare Sarani PS and the Electronic Complex PS.
Even as Kolkata Police and Bidhannagar Police moved in tandem to collect CCTV footage of the ED searches at I-PAC properties, ED's insistence in court to freeze CCTV footage showed the importance of it before both sets of investigators.
Cops are also sending footage to forensics to establish identities of those involved in the squabble with DC South. Sources claimed that the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) of the building has already been collected by investigating officials and sent to forensic lab on Saturday. Officials said the police were also drawing up a list of names whose statements would be recorded.
"The DVR is secured. The building's facility manager was asked to submit the names of employees who were on duty on Jan 8. Statements of Jain and his family members would also be recorded as and when required," said a police source. On Saturday morning, officers from Shakespeare Sarani PS visited Jain's residence and collected CCTV footage and DVR recordings, he said.
In this regard, cops already spoke to some of those present at Jain's residence on Thursday, including security guards and a housekeeper, even as cops planned to speak to maintenance staff on Sunday.
Back at Salt Lake, Bidhannagar City Police sleuths may speak to I-PAC employees present at the office during the search. "Once we identify the central agency personnel, we will be sending them notices as required, asking them to record their statements. However, every action taken will be according to law and strictly on a requirement basis," added the source.
On Thursday morning, two ED teams arrived at Loudon Street and Salt Lake to conduct searches related to an illegal coal smuggling case. Upon receiving information, the police arrived at the scene, but reportedly, they were not allowed entry into Pratik's house or the I-PAC office. Police claimed DC South Priyabrata Roy was manhandled, even as the ED claimed the opposite. Around noon, CM Banerjee personally visited Loudon Street and retrieved documents, files, and laptops from Pratik's house during the ED's search.
According to police, the ED arrived at Loudon Street around 6.30 am and began the search at Pratik's residence. Upon receiving information around 9 am, a sergeant from the local police station initially went to the scene but was not allowed entry and allegedly pushed. Subsequently, Kolkata Police's deputy commissioner (South) Roy visited the location but was also obstructed. Later, police commissioner Manoj Verma arrived, followed by the chief minister a few minutes later.