The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday (April 2) carried out fresh search operations at premises linked to Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru as part of its ongoing investigation into the alleged West Bengal coal smuggling case.
According to reports, the raids targeted offices of Indian Pac Consulting Private Limited (I-PAC), a political consultancy firm known for managing election campaigns. In addition to office locations, ED officials also conducted searches at premises linked to I-PAC director Rishi Raj Singh in Bengaluru.
The latest action is part of a broader and continuing probe into the coal smuggling racket in West Bengal, which has witnessed multiple rounds of raids, arrests, and interrogations since the case first came to light.
This is not the first time I-PAC has come under the scanner in connection with the case. In January this year, ED raids in Delhi and West Bengal triggered high-voltage political reactions. The agency had then searched I-PAC offices as well as the residence of its director Pratik Jain in Kolkata.
The developments had sparked a political controversy, with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally visiting Jain’s residence and accusing central agencies of attempting to access sensitive election strategy documents linked to the Trinamool Congress.
I-PAC has been closely associated with the Trinamool Congress, playing a key role in crafting electoral strategies for the party in recent elections.
Coal Smuggling Case
The coal smuggling case pertains to allegations of illegal mining and theft of coal from leasehold areas of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), particularly in the Paschim Bardhaman district of West Bengal. Investigators have alleged that the illegal operations were carried out in collusion with certain officials, including those linked to the railways and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
The proceeds of the alleged незакон operations were reportedly routed through hawala channels, with investigators uncovering a network of operators involved in laundering the money.
An FIR in the case was originally registered in 2020, following which the ED began tracking the financial trail linked to the smuggling of coal.
During the course of the investigation, the ED is understood to have identified financial transactions involving a hawala operator allegedly connected to the layering of proceeds of crime. The operator is said to have facilitated transactions worth tens of crores of rupees to I-PAC, bringing the consultancy firm and its key functionaries under the agency’s scrutiny.
With the latest round of searches, officials are expected to gather further documentary and digital evidence to establish the money trail and possible links between the accused entities.
The probe continues, with more developments likely as central agencies deepen their investigation into one of the most politically sensitive financial cases in the state.
