Kolkata Police visit I-PAC co-founder’s home to identify ED, CAPF personnel involved in raid

Kolkata- Kolkata Police on Saturday afternoon visited the residence of Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) co-founder Pratik Jain to identify Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials and the accompanying Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel who were present during the raids conducted by the central agency on Thursday.

The identification process is being carried out using CCTV footage installed at Jain’s residence, along with statements from local residents. Police are also recording statements from family members, domestic staff and personnel from the private security agency deployed at the premises.

Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had lodged two separate complaints at different police stations over the ED’s simultaneous raid and search operations at Jain’s Loudon Street residence and I-PAC’s office in Salt Lake, on the northern outskirts of Kolkata.

One complaint was registered at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station, under whose jurisdiction Jain’s residence falls, while the second was filed at the Electronic Complex Police Station under Bidhannagar City Police, which has jurisdiction over I-PAC’s Salt Lake office.

However, neither complaint names any specific ED official or CAPF personnel, with both cases registered against unidentified individuals. In addition, Kolkata Police have also filed a suo motu complaint in connection with the matter at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station.

Reacting to the developments, the West Bengal BJP leadership claimed that it was unprecedented in Indian democracy for state police to pursue officials of a central investigative agency for carrying out their official duties during raid and search operations.

The ED raids were conducted in connection with an old coal smuggling case. The agency has alleged that a multi-crore coal smuggling syndicate linked to Anup Majee has connections with political consultancy firm I-PAC through a hawala money trail.

With inputs from IANS