ED submits report on search at I PAC office to MHA
The Statesman | 11 January 2026
The Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) had sought a detailed report from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday regarding the sequence of events during the agency’s search operations in Kolkata in connection with the alleged illegal coal smuggling case.
A day later, a comprehensive report prepared by the ED officials who conducted the searches was sent to the agency’s headquarters in New Delhi today. The report is expected to be forwarded to the office of Union home minister Amit Shah as early Saturday, official sources said. The searches were carried out on Thursday at the I-PAC office in Salt Lake’s Sector V and at the Loudon Street residence of I-PAC chief Pratik Jain.
According to ED sources, the MHA specifically sought details on the role played by central forces, the Kolkata Police, and the state administration during the course of the operation. Following this, the ED compiled a report incorporating first-hand accounts of the officers present at the sites. While the ED had earlier issued a press statement outlining its version of events ~ details that also form part of its petition before the Calcutta High Court ~ the report sent to Delhi provides a chronological narration of developments on the ground.
The central agency has alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee forcibly took away crucial digital documents from ED officials during the search. This claim, ED sources said, has been explicitly mentioned in the report submitted to headquarters. On Thursday, the ED conducted simultaneous search operations at 10 locations across West Bengal and Delhi as part of its probe into the alleged coal smuggling racket. Of these, the agency has alleged obstruction to its investigation at two locations in Kolkata.
The ED has accused certain individuals of misusing constitutional authority to interfere with the search and forcibly removing important documents, prompting the agency to initiate legal proceedings. In its submission before the court, the ED stated that several digital documents were seized during the search at Pratik Jain’s residence. According to the agency, at 11.15 a.m, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Priyabrata Roy arrived at the Loudon Street premises, informing ED officials that a complaint of unauthorised entry had been received. The ED officials subsequently produced their identity cards and search warrants before the police. Police Commissioner Manoj Verma also reached the spot and was briefed about the ongoing search. At approximately 12.05 p.m, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the residence. ED officials have claimed that they repeatedly requested her not to interfere with the legal process. However, as per the agency’s report, the Chief Minister allegedly “violated all legal norms and forcibly snatched digital documents” from ED officer Prashant Chandila before leaving the premises around 12.15 p.m.
The ED maintains that this sequence of events has been recorded in the report forwarded to Delhi. On the other hand, Kolkata Police sources have presented a sharply contrasting version. They claimed that police personnel attempted to enter Pratik Jain’s residence from around 9 a.m. but were denied access. According to police sources, neither a search warrant nor identity documents were shown at the entrance, and officers were allegedly pushed back. This, they said, prompted the Police Commissioner, and subsequently the Chief Minister to visit the spot. The Trinamul Congress has also moved the Calcutta High Court in connection with the incident, while the ED has filed a separate case. Hearings in both matters have been adjourned until 14 January.