Kolkata, Jan 8 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) executed a raid on Thursday at the Salt Lake Sector V office of Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), a consulting organization affiliated with the Trinamool Congress since 2019.

Sources from the central investigative agency revealed that a specialized team from Delhi was dispatched for this operation.

ED officials also targeted the residence of I-PAC's co-founder, Pratik Jain, on London Street, where inquiries are currently ongoing. Pratik Jain also serves as the director of I-PAC.

In light of these events, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited Jain's home in central Kolkata, accompanied by Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma.

As per ED sources, the operation is linked to a previous case lodged in Delhi concerning coal smuggling, with I-PAC's name appearing in several transactions associated with this scandal.

Another ED team also visited a businessman's residence in the Posta area of Burrabazar, north Kolkata, related to the same investigation.

The ED's operation was supported by central forces, catching the entire I-PAC team off guard as they were immersed in preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal.

During the early morning raid, only a handful of employees were present at the I-PAC office due to the night shift. Sources indicated that the raid commenced with their presence. The I-PAC office occupies the 11th floor of a multi-story building in Sector V, where the central forces sealed off the entire floor, effectively barring entry and exit.

As the day unfolded, senior officials of the company conducted meetings via video calls from their homes, engaging with I-PAC members across various districts.

I-PAC was established by Prashant Kishor ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and has collaborated with the Trinamool Congress and the West Bengal government following the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. I-PAC played a crucial role in the party's decisive victory during the 2021 Assembly elections and the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

After Kishor's departure to focus on full-time politics, the organization is now managed by three directors: Pratik Jain, Vinesh Chandel, and Rishi Raj Singh. Jain acts as the liaison between the organization and the Trinamool Congress.

Notably, Abhishek Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress all-India general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP, has faced multiple inquiries from central agencies, including the ED and the CBI, regarding the coal smuggling case over recent years. These raids come just months ahead of the state elections.

Pratik, head of I-PAC, is recognized for his influence in state politics and governance, having met with Chief Minister Banerjee on numerous occasions at Nabanna, the state secretariat.

Prior to the Assembly elections, I-PAC also acted as a conduit between the ruling party and the government to facilitate various government schemes. While I-PAC maintains ongoing communication with top administrative officials, its team collaborates closely with Abhishek Banerjee, a key figure in the ruling party, and his office. In fact, I-PAC's involvement in candidate selection for the Assembly elections has been quite pivotal.

Interestingly, BJP's national president J.P. Nadda is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on Thursday to meet with state BJP leaders. Both the ruling and opposition parties are closely observing the duration of the ED's raid on the I-PAC office and Jain's home.