KOLKATA — Under a heavy security blanket and amidst soaring political temperatures, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is leading a high-stakes protest march through the heart of South Kolkata today. The rally, which began at the Jadavpur 8B bus standand is destined for Hazra Crossing, serves as a fiery response to yesterday’s unprecedented confrontation between the Chief Minister and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The “Green Folder” Showdown
The protest follows a day of high drama on Thursday when Banerjee personally “raided the raiders.” As ED officials were conducting searches at the Loudon Street residence of Pratik Jain—head of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) and the TMC’s IT operations—the Chief Minister arrived unannounced.
In scenes reminiscent of her 2019 standoff with the CBI, Banerjee was seen emerging from the premises holding a bright green plastic folder, claiming she had “liberated” sensitive party documents from federal seizure.
“They are trying to steal our election strategy, our candidate lists, and our data. Is this the job of a federal agency or a political burglary team?” Banerjee asked a crowd of reporters, specifically labeling Union Home Minister Amit Shah as “naughty” and “nasty” for allegedly orchestrating the swoop.
ED’s Counter-Strike: Legal Battle in High Court
The Enforcement Directorate has not remained silent. The agency moved the Calcutta High Court late Thursday, filing an urgent petition alleging that the Chief Minister “obstructed” a lawful investigation.
The ED’s Core Allegations:
- Forcible Removal of Evidence: The agency claims Banerjee and her aides “forcibly removed” physical documents and electronic devices, including hard disks, that were crucial to an ongoing money-laundering probe.
- Interference by State Police: The ED alleged that the Kolkata Police Commissioner and other senior officers entered the raid site illegally to assist the Chief Minister.
- Coal Smuggling Link: The agency clarified that the raids are part of a probe into a multi-crore coal pilferage scam, alleging that “hawala money” from the scam was routed to I-PAC to fund TMC’s previous election campaigns.
Politics of the “SIR”
At the heart of Banerjee’s fury is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. She has repeatedly accused the BJP of using central agencies and administrative processes to disenfranchise nearly 1.5 million voters in Bengal ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
By raiding I-PAC—the firm that manages the TMC’s data—Banerjee argues the Centre is attempting to “blindside” her party’s ground-level coordination.
What’s Next?
As the rally winds through the streets today, all eyes are on the Calcutta High Court, where Justice Suvra Ghosh is expected to hear the ED’s petition regarding the alleged obstruction.
The BJP has characterized the Chief Minister’s actions as “desperate,” with state leaders questioning why a sitting CM would “scramble to secure files” if there were nothing to hide. Meanwhile, the TMC has signaled that this is just the beginning of a statewide agitation.
