Kolkata, Jan 10 (NationPress) BJP leader Smriti Irani sharply criticized West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday, questioning why she allegedly came with police officers during an Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid intended to assist the accused.

The ED has claimed that its operations were hindered after Banerjee arrived at the home of Pratik Jain, co-founder of the I-PAC, accompanied by a significant number of police officials.

In a statement to reporters, Irani remarked, “Throughout India's history, no citizen has witnessed such a situation, where a state Chief Minister arrives during a Hawala scam-related raid with police to protect the accused. The rapidity and fervor with which Mamata Banerjee arrived, along with the police, raises serious concerns regarding her intentions to protect those implicated in the investigation.”

She further questioned whether Banerjee had ever demonstrated such urgency to assist the ordinary citizens of West Bengal.

“Have the people of West Bengal ever observed similar swift actions when common citizens face distress? Does she respond with such urgency to rescue or assist them? Never. This prompts a critical question—what is contained in those files? Given that Hawala involves a private entity, what leads her to believe those documents pertain to her?” Irani continued.

Continuing her critique, the BJP leader accused the Trinamool Congress of repeatedly trying to politicize investigative agencies.

“Repeatedly, the public has witnessed the Trinamool Congress transforming investigative actions into political weapons. These individuals were accused, yet Mamata Banerjee has reinforced this narrative through her presence during an ED raid at a private firm. What are those documents that alarmed her so much that she felt the need to intervene herself?” she asserted.

Irani also condemned what she described as Banerjee's lack of comprehension regarding constitutional procedures.

“This individual appears oblivious to the fact that the Enforcement Directorate operates independently of the Home Ministry. She has consistently shown a lack of understanding regarding the functioning of constitutional offices. Groundless accusations are directed towards Union Home Minister Amit Shah, possibly without realizing that the ED is an autonomous investigating agency. Constitutionally, as per the Rules of Business, the ED does not report to the Home Minister,” Irani stated.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC also criticized Banerjee’s intervention, labeling it unprecedented.

“This marks the first instance of a Chief Minister intervening during a raid executed by the Enforcement Directorate. Similar raids have occurred in Kolkata and Delhi previously, yet no one intervened except Mamata Banerjee. This clearly signifies her fear of electoral loss and an attempt to conceal something,” she asserted.

Shaina NC added that Banerjee should permit investigative bodies to operate independently.

“Whatever she is attempting to hide, she must remember that ultimately, it is the voters who determine success or failure. She should allow the Enforcement Directorate to carry out its duties without interference,” she emphasized.

The conflict between the Centre and the West Bengal government regarding the ED's raids on I-PAC and its co-founder Pratik Jain intensified on Friday, as Mamata Banerjee led a protest rally in Kolkata. In response, the BJP accused her of being significantly involved in corruption.

During these proceedings, Justice Suvra Ghosh of the Calcutta High Court, who was addressing multiple petitions regarding this matter, exited the courtroom due to excessive crowding. With the high court not in session over the weekend, the case is set to be revisited on Wednesday.

I-PAC, a political consultancy, has been assisting the Trinamool Congress in strategizing for the approaching West Bengal Assembly elections. The ED has alleged that Banerjee left Jain's residence with a laptop, mobile device, and documents during the raids conducted on Thursday related to a coal smuggling case.

In its petition, the ED asserted that Banerjee misused her constitutional authority by obstructing officials engaged in their official duties during the raids at the I-PAC office and Jain’s residence. The agency also requested a CBI investigation into the incident, including the Chief Minister's involvement.

In response, Pratik Jain and the Trinamool Congress filed counter-claims, alleging that the ED's raids were aimed at confiscating documents linked to the party's electoral strategies ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, intending to transfer them to the BJP.