Kolkatta, Jan 8, KNT: A major political confrontation has erupted in West Bengal after the Enforcement Directorate accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of interfering in an ongoing money laundering investigation, triggering sharp reactions from both the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.
The controversy began after the Enforcement Directorate carried out searches at multiple locations in Kolkata in connection with an alleged money laundering case linked to coal smuggling and hawala transactions. Among the locations searched was the residence linked to the head of a political consultancy firm associated with the ruling party.
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According to the ED, Mamata Banerjee arrived at the search location during the operation and allegedly removed documents and electronic devices, an act the agency claims amounted to obstruction of its investigation. The ED subsequently approached the Calcutta High Court, alleging interference and seeking legal protection for the probe.
The Chief Minister, however, strongly rejected the allegations and accused the central agency of acting at the behest of the Union government. Mamata Banerjee described the searches as politically motivated and aimed at intimidating the Trinamool Congress ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. She alleged that central agencies were being misused to target opposition leaders and disrupt party functioning.
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The developments sparked political reactions across the state, with the BJP accusing the Chief Minister of shielding individuals under investigation, while the Trinamool Congress defended her actions, claiming the raids were an attempt to seize party data and confidential material.
The matter is now before the Calcutta High Court, where legal arguments are expected on the conduct of the searches and the allegations of obstruction. The unfolding episode has further intensified the political climate in West Bengal, adding to the ongoing confrontation between the state government and central agencies. [KNT]
