CM Mamata Banerjee at a rally in Kolkata on Friday against the ED raids at I-PAC offices. (Express photo by Partha Paul)
I-PAC raids LIVE updates: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday launched its campaign song for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, asserting that the party would return to power for a fourth consecutive term. The song’s launch comes within 48 hours after a stand-off between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over the raids at I-PAC offices and the firm’s director Pratik Jain’s house. The chief minister’s protest over the ED raids at I-PAC offices has also been incorporated into the party’s election campaign song. The political consultancy released a campaign song titled- “Jotoi koro hamla, abar jitbe Bangla” – for the TMC, featuring Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee. The 3-minute and 12-second video showcases their programmes, meetings, and protests.
ED to move SC: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is likely to move Supreme Court, alleging interference by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her administration during its searches on political consultancy firm I-PAC in Kolkata. Both the ED and the Trinamool Congress have already filed petitions in the Calcutta High Court. On Friday, Justice Suvra Ghosh of the Calcutta High Court adjourned the hearing on the petitions to January 14 after chaos erupted in the courtroom as soon as proceedings began.
ED conducted searches at 10 locations linked to I-PAC: The ED conducted searches at 10 locations linked to I-PAC, which is managing the TMC’s poll campaign. The searches were held in connection with an alleged coal smuggling and money laundering case, the ED said. While the searches were underway, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the residence of I-PAC director Pratik Jain, and later came out of his apartment with a laptop and a green folder. She also went to I-PAC’s office and brought out several files.
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