The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a sharp offensive against West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress on Friday, accusing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of "file chori" (file theft) during an Enforcement Directorate (ED) operation. The party has sought the intervention of Governor C V Ananda Bose, alleging a "breakdown of constitutional machinery" in the state.
The Raid and the Alleged Confrontation
The political firestorm erupted a day after the central probe agency conducted searches at the Salt Lake office of political consultancy I-PAC and the Loudon Street residence of its director, Pratik Jain. The raids were part of a five-year-old money laundering case. The BJP's core allegation is that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally visited the raid site and removed documents from the premises.
A delegation of BJP lawmakers submitted a memorandum to Governor Bose, urging him to seek a detailed report from the state government on the nature of the documents "that were removed." The memorandum also questioned the "legality of the police action" during the incident.
BJP Leaders Launch Scathing Attack
Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad emphasized that the search was neither at the CM's residence nor any Trinamool office. "Despite that, she went inside a private property and snatched the papers," he alleged. The party raised serious questions about how those documents could be kept inside the Chief Minister's car, suggesting an "intention to bury the truth."
State Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari drew parallels with the obstacles ED officials faced in Sandeshkhali. He stated, "ED officers could have been hurt if they tried to prevent her. But it is a criminal offence to come in the way of government servants." Adhikari claimed Thursday's episode "erased the line between the party and state and governance and intimidation."
Political Protests and Broader Allegations
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar alleged a pattern, recalling Banerjee's agility when agencies acted against former DGP Rajeev Kumar. "However, Kumar was part of her administrative team. But how could the CM be involved in protecting a businessman?" he questioned. Majumdar argued that if this becomes the norm, corruption investigations across the country would be impossible. He also demanded a separate probe into how government files could be with Pratik Jain.
Reflecting the party's aggressive stance, the BJP's Yuva Morcha staged a protest at Esplanade against the alleged "file chori," while the Mahila Morcha demonstrated near Lake Club in south Kolkata. The BJP has framed the Chief Minister's actions as a direct confrontation with central agencies on the streets, bypassing legal remedies available through courts.
The incident has significantly escalated political tensions in Kolkata, with the BJP attempting to frame it as a fundamental challenge to constitutional governance, while the Trinamool Congress has dismissed the allegations as a politically motivated smear campaign.
