Raids, Arrests and Green File Arrests: Why I-PAC Becomes Political Focus in Mamata, West Bengal

The education ministry has conducted searches at various locations, including Kolkata and Delhi, as part of its investigation into alleged financial irregularities at I-PAC.The agency insisted the operation was part of a routine investigation and was not politically motivated, saying the search was evidence-based, did not target any political institution, did not search any party offices and was not related to any election.The TMC, however, strongly countered, accusing central agencies of targeting the party ahead of the elections and turning the probe into a political confrontation.

The breaking point of “green files”

Mamata staged a dramatic intervention when she reached I-PAC co-founder Pratik Jain’s residence during the emergency room raid.She worked with aides and police to “forcibly remove physical documents and electronic evidence,” according to the agency, and then went to I-PAC’s offices in Salt Lake City, where similar conduct allegedly occurred.Images of Mamata carrying a so-called “green file” sparked a national debate. The ED said her actions frustrate proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), while the TMC defended her move, claiming the raid was aimed at accessing sensitive political material.Mamata, however, alleged that central agencies had seized sensitive party materials, including hard drives, candidate lists and strategy documents, and accused Amit Shah of abusing the powers of the investigative agency.“Is it the responsibility of the ED or Amit Shah to take away hard drives and candidate lists of political parties? The home minister, who cannot protect the country, is taking away all my party documents,” Banerjee said while talking to reporters.The chief minister issued a direct challenge to the BJP leadership to take on her politically. “If Amit Shah wants Bengal, come and fight for democracy and win. People should know what kind of action was taken. At 6:00 am they arrived and seized party data, laptops, strategies and mobile phones. Their forensic experts copied all the data. I think it’s criminal,” she said.

Bharatiya Janata Party strikes back

The BJP leader launched a sharp attack on Mamata Banerjee over the I-PAC controversy, accusing her of interfering in the ED probe and covering up wrongdoings.BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal claimed that the chief minister was “siding with the mafia” and described I-PAC as “a very controversial company”. He claimed, “When the attack happened, the chief minister personally went there to steal the documents…I-PAC’s job is to collaborate with the mafia and get money from them to form and topple the government.” He further demanded that the education ministry “should register an FIR against Mamata Banerjee”.Responding to similar accusations, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said Banerjee “obstructed official work” during the ED operation. “Perhaps for the first time in India, a chief minister went in and tried to remove evidence in a raid,” he claimed. He added that she “pushed everyone aside and collected physical and electronic evidence,” which, he said, “suggested she had a lot to hide.”

coal scams and Hawala association

The investigation stems from a 2020 CBI case involving an alleged coal smuggling syndicate led by Anup Majhi alias Lala and involved in illegal mining in parts of West Bengal. The education ministry said the proceeds from the business flowed through the hawala channel to Indian PAC Consulting Pvt Ltd, the registered entity of I-PAC.The agency said the raid was linked to individuals profiting from coal smuggling and claimed I-PAC was one of the entities linked to hawala funding. Investigators say a hawala operator brokered deals worth hundreds of millions of rupees for the company.

Arrests and expanded investigation

The case intensified in April, when the Education Department arrested I-PAC co-founder Vinesh Chandel in connection with a money laundering investigation. He was produced before a Delhi court which recorded that the agency complied with the statutory requirements of the PMLA and provided relevant documents and grounds for arrest.The scope of the investigation continues to widen, with director Rishi Raj Singh summoned for questioning and co-founder Pratik Jain also coming under repeated scrutiny. The ED also summoned Jain’s wife and brother and said it was reviewing their business ties.

From poll strategist to political hot button

Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor founded I-PAC, which later became a major political consulting firm working with various political parties in India.It has close ties with the TMC in West Bengal and played a key role in the electoral strategy.Although founder Prashant Kishor quit IPAC after the 2021 West Bengal elections and quit a few months after launching his own political organization Jan Suraaj, the company remains active in key electoral states, including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

Election Timing and Political Risk

The timing of the raids and arrests, ahead of crucial elections, has intensified the political fight. The TMC described the probe as an attempt to disrupt its campaign machinery, while the BJP used the probe to question the ruling party’s transparency.Mamata also led a protest rally in Kolkata against the ED’s actions, underscoring the centrality of the issue in the state’s political narrative.

Beyond I-PAC: The larger political battle

The dispute has gone beyond a financial investigation into a wider political conflict involving corruption allegations, political vendettas and tensions between the state and centre.With raids, arrests and the Green Dossier affair dominating headlines, I-PAC has emerged as a key flashpoint in West Bengal politics, likely to shape the narrative and voter perceptions ahead of the elections.