In a significant escalation of the ongoing political tussle in West Bengal, the state police have officially registered First Information Reports (FIRs) against officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). This action comes directly in response to formal complaints lodged by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The Genesis of the Legal Confrontation
The controversy stems from the ED's investigative actions related to the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), a political consultancy that has worked with Banerjee's Trinamool Congress in the past. The Chief Minister alleged procedural overreach and misconduct by the central agency during its probe. Following her official complaint, the Kolkata Police swung into action.
Authorities confirmed that one FIR was registered at a police station in Salt Lake's Electronic Complex area. This case was initiated on January 9, 2026, based on the complaint filed by the West Bengal chief minister. The filing of an FIR is a critical legal step, marking the formal start of a police investigation into the allegations made against the federal agency's officials.
A Mirror Case in Salt Lake
Police sources indicated that a similar case has been initiated at the Electronic Complex Police Station in Salt Lake. This underscores the seriousness with which the state machinery is treating the complaints made by its highest elected official. The parallel proceedings suggest a coordinated legal strategy from the state government's side.
The move represents a rare and bold counter-offensive by a state government against a central investigative agency. It highlights the deepening rift between the Trinamool Congress-led state administration and the central government's apparatus. Legal experts point out that such direct registration of FIRs against central agency officials by state police is an uncommon event in Indian politics.
Implications and Political Repercussions
This development is set to have wide-ranging consequences. Firstly, it formalizes the conflict from a political spat into a legal battlefield. The ED officials named in the FIRs may now have to participate in investigations conducted by the state police, creating an unprecedented situation of mutual scrutiny.
Secondly, the action on January 9, 2026, signals Mamata Banerjee's intent to leverage state institutions to challenge the central agency's operations in West Bengal. It is widely perceived as a message against what the ruling state party calls "selective targeting" and "politically motivated investigations."
The coming days are likely to see:
- Intense legal arguments in courts regarding jurisdiction and the validity of the FIRs.
- Increased political rhetoric from both the TMC and the BJP-led central government.
- Close scrutiny of the I-PAC case and the nature of the ED's initial probe that triggered this reaction.
This FIR episode marks a new chapter in the continuous power struggle between Kolkata and New Delhi, setting a notable precedent for federal relations and the autonomy of state law enforcement agencies in India.
