The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided I-PAC co-founder and West Bengal head Pratik Jain’s residence in Kolkata and the organisation’s offices on January 8, 2025, in connection with a money laundering probe linked to a 2020 coal smuggling scam, alleging that a hawala operator associated with the syndicate routed tens of crores of rupees to I-PAC Consulting Pvt Ltd.
Why ED Raided I-PAC Co-Founder Pratik Jain in West Bengal?
The Enforcement Directorate’s searches at the premises of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) and its key figure Pratik Jain have sparked intense political controversy in West Bengal, especially with Assembly elections approaching in 2026. The raids, conducted on January 8, 2025, are part of an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering tied to a multi-crore coal pilferage and smuggling racket.
Who is Pratik Jain?
Pratik Jain, an IIT Bombay alumnus, is a co-founder of I-PAC, one of India’s prominent political consulting firms established around 2015. Starting his career as an analyst at Deloitte, Jain played a pivotal role in building I-PAC into a data-driven campaign management entity that has worked with multiple political parties across the country, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), BJP, Congress, and AAP. In West Bengal, Jain heads I-PAC’s operations and manages TMC’s IT and media cell in close coordination with the party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
The Alleged Coal Smuggling Scam and ED’s Case
The raids stem from a 2020 case initially registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against a coal smuggling syndicate allegedly led by Anup Majhi, alias ‘Lala’. The group is accused of illegally excavating and smuggling coal from Eastern Coalfield leasehold areas in Paschim Bardhaman district. According to the ED, a hawala operator linked to this syndicate facilitated transactions worth tens of crores to I-PAC, raising money laundering concerns.
ED teams searched 10 premises — six in West Bengal (including Jain’s Loudon Street residence in Kolkata and I-PAC’s Salt Lake office) and four in Delhi. The operation lasted over nine hours at Jain’s home.
Political Storm and Reactions
The raids triggered sharp reactions. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited Jain’s residence and the I-PAC office during the searches, accusing central agencies of attempting to seize sensitive TMC election data and intimidate opponents ahead of polls. TMC leaders protested, claiming the action was politically motivated.
The ED later accused Banerjee of obstructing the probe and removing key evidence, filing a court motion on the matter (scheduled for hearing on January 14, 2026). Opposition parties, including BJP and Congress, criticised Banerjee’s intervention, with some alleging I-PAC functions as an extension of TMC.
Theft Allegations by Jain’s Family
On the day following the raids, Pratik Jain’s family filed a police complaint at Shakespeare Sarani police station in Kolkata, alleging that ED officials stole essential documents during the search at their Loudon Street home. Kolkata Police have acknowledged the complaint, collected CCTV footage, and initiated an investigation.
I-PAC’s Response
I-PAC described the raids as an “unsettling precedent” while emphasising its professional work across party lines. The organisation resumed operations at its Salt Lake office shortly after the searches.
As investigations continue, the episode has heightened political tensions in West Bengal, with both sides trading accusations of misuse of central agencies and obstruction of justice.
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