In a significant development, Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director Rahul Naveen arrived in Kolkata on Thursday night to conduct a comprehensive review of the central investigating agency's operations in the city. This visit comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions following recent violent incidents targeting ED personnel during official duties.
Background of the Kolkata Visit
Director Naveen's current trip marks his second visit to Kolkata in 2024. His previous visit occurred earlier this year after ED officers faced physical attacks while conducting searches at the residence of Sheikh Shahjahan, a politically sensitive figure. That incident raised serious concerns about the safety and security of central agency officials operating in West Bengal.
Friday's Scheduled Meetings and Reviews
On Friday morning, Director Naveen is scheduled to reach the CGO Complex office of the directorate, where he will hold crucial meetings with senior officials. According to sources familiar with the itinerary, he is likely to specifically meet with officers who were present during the January 8 search operations. These operations targeted both the office of political consultancy firm I-PAC and the residence of its director, Prateek Jain.
The meetings are expected to cover multiple aspects of ED's functioning in Kolkata, including operational challenges, coordination with local authorities, and procedural compliance during sensitive investigations.
Security Review and Feedback Session
Beyond operational matters, Director Naveen is expected to take detailed feedback from ED officers regarding their overall working conditions and security arrangements. This security review assumes particular importance considering recent developments that have exposed vulnerabilities in protecting central agency personnel and office premises.
Sources indicate that the discussions will likely address both immediate security concerns and long-term measures to ensure ED officials can perform their duties without fear of intimidation or physical harm.
Duration of the Kolkata Visit
While no official confirmation has been provided regarding the exact duration of Director Naveen's stay, ED sources suggest he might depart Kolkata on an evening flight on Friday. This relatively brief visit underscores the urgency with which the agency leadership is addressing the operational and security challenges in the region.
The visit represents a hands-on approach by ED's top leadership to assess ground realities firsthand and implement necessary measures to strengthen the agency's investigative capabilities while ensuring officer safety in what has become a challenging operational environment.
