The political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) finds itself at the center of a growing legal and administrative tussle in Kolkata. With the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the West Bengal government both set to approach the Supreme Court on Monday regarding the searches conducted at I-PAC's offices, the focus has sharpened on the central agency's officers involved in the operation.
Kolkata Police Probe Intensifies
On Sunday, the Kolkata Police indicated it was formally writing to the ED to seek the names of all officers who participated in the searches conducted on Thursday, January 8. The searches targeted I-PAC's Salt Lake office and the Loudon Street residence of the firm's director, Pratik Jain. Police are also working to identify the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel from the 167 battalion who accompanied the ED team to both locations.
A senior police officer revealed that their initial findings suggest the searches were led by an ED assistant director, accompanied by other officers of assistant rank. An email is being prepared to be sent to the ED seeking the identities of these officers. A separate communication will be sent to the CRPF's Eastern Sector office to obtain details of its personnel who were present.
Multiple Reports Sought by Central Ministries
The Union Home Ministry has stepped into the fray, seeking a detailed report from the ED on the complete sequence of events that unfolded on January 8. In response, the ED, which is the investigation arm of the Union Finance Ministry, has stated it will submit a separate report to the Home Ministry. The agency has already submitted its initial report to its parent finance ministry.
Similarly, the CRPF authority, whose personnel provided security escort to the ED officials during the searches, has also submitted its report to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which is its controlling ministry.
Evidence Gathering and Forensic Examination
The Kolkata Police investigation on the ground is progressing methodically. Officers have recorded statements from the domestic help and security guard at Pratik Jain's Loudon Street residence. In a significant move, police seized the relevant Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) from the premises and sent the hard disk containing CCTV footage for forensic examination to retrieve potential evidence.
Investigators have also summoned the facility manager of the residential complex where Jain lives and have begun collecting information from other building staff and security personnel. Police sources stated that if required, they may record the statements of Pratik Jain, his wife, and his mother, who were present at home when the ED team arrived.
Simultaneously, the Bidhannagar Police made multiple visits to the I-PAC office in Sector V, Salt Lake. Their objective was to speak with guards and employees to record preliminary statements and gather more information about the events of January 8.
With the Supreme Court hearing imminent on Monday, the case has escalated into a major point of contention between the central agencies and the West Bengal state government. The outcomes of the police probe and the judicial proceedings are being closely watched, as they could have significant implications for the conduct of such investigations in the future.
