The presence of West Bengal's two most senior bureaucrats alongside Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a search operation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has ignited a major controversy, with former officials and political rivals condemning the act as a blatant violation of administrative norms.
Top Officials Accompany CM During Central Agency Raid
The incident occurred on Thursday when the ED conducted raids at multiple locations in Kolkata and Bidhannagar, including the office of the political consultancy firm I-PAC (Indian Political Action Committee). The searches were part of a money-laundering investigation linked to an alleged coal smuggling scam. The agency claimed that "proceeds of a coal scam amounting to crores were laundered to I-PAC through hawala channels."
After the raid began at the residence of I-PAC director Pratik Jain on Loudon Street, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the spot. She subsequently proceeded to I-PAC's office in Salt Lake's Sector-V. It was there that Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and Principal Secretary to the CM, Manoj Pant, joined her, a move that has drawn sharp criticism.
Former Bureaucrats Decry 'Serious Breach' of Propriety
Several former senior officers of the state administration have slammed the officials' presence, calling it unprecedented and improper. A former officer stated that while police officers can accompany the CM for security reasons, there was "no need for the administration officials to rush to the spot, especially where a central agency was conducting a search operation." He termed it "gross misconduct."
Drawing a contrast with past administrations, the officer recalled that former Chief Ministers like Jyoti Basu or Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee never summoned officers to their party offices or residences for official meetings.
Another former officer cited a precedent from February 3, 2019, when CM Banerjee staged a dharna following a CBI raid at the residence of then Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar. At that time, the then Chief Secretary, Malay De, had reportedly refused to attend a cabinet meeting proposed at the dharna site, leading to the meeting being held elsewhere.
Political Reactions and Accusations of Blurred Lines
The controversy intensified after CM Banerjee clarified on Friday that she "went there as chairperson of the Trinamool Congress." This statement fueled further criticism from opposition parties, who accused the state government of completely mixing governance with politics.
BJP state vice-president Jagannath Chattopadhyay alleged that in West Bengal, "politics and governance have got mixed up completely." He criticized the involved IAS officers for getting "entangled in this political web."
CPI(M) Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty questioned the need for top officials to be present at a political event. "Mamata Banerjee herself said she went there as a Trinamool Congress leader. Then why too many officials and security personnel?" he asked, suggesting it indicated a deeper political crisis.
The legal battle surrounding the raids is also escalating. The ED plans to move the Supreme Court after alleging obstruction during its searches, while the Bengal government has filed a caveat in the apex court. Both sides have also filed petitions in the Calcutta High Court, leading to adjourned hearings.
The episode has put a spotlight on the conduct of senior civil servants and raised fundamental questions about the separation between administrative duty and political activity in the state, setting the stage for a continued political and legal confrontation.
