Mamata Banerjee will spearhead a protest march in Kolkata today amid escalating tensions between the ED and TMC following the I-PAC raids.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lead a protest rally on Friday after a clash with the ED.

The TMC chief said the searches aimed to seize party documents before the state Assembly elections.

The rally will start at Jadavpur 8B bus stand and end at Hazra Crossing, spanning over five kilometres.

Banerjee has called on the public to participate in large numbers.

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What ED said on Mamata Banerjee?

Tensions escalated on Thursday when the ED conducted searches at the I-PAC office and the residence of its director, Pratik Jain, in connection with a money-laundering probe. Banerjee alleged that ED officials attempted to confiscate hard disks, internal documents, and sensitive organisational data belonging to the TMC during the operation. She made the claims after visiting Jain’s Loudon Street residence, where searches had been underway since morning.

The ED, however, accused the Chief Minister of entering the premises during the search and removing key evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices. In a statement, the agency said the operation was being conducted peacefully until Banerjee arrived with a large police presence.

The BJP response

Banerjee later visited the I-PAC office and accused the ED of unlawfully seizing party-related data, laptops, mobile phones, and strategic documents. She claimed forensic teams transferred data during the raid and described the action as illegal, alleging misuse of central agencies ahead of elections. The Chief Minister also accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of intimidating opposition parties and termed his actions undemocratic.

She further asserted that I-PAC functions as an authorised team of the All India Trinamool Congress and claimed the ED seized sensitive party documents, including data related to electoral roll revisions, despite the TMC being a registered political party compliant with tax regulations.

Following the incident, the BJP launched a sharp counterattack, alleging an attempt to conceal incriminating material. In a post on X, the party questioned why the Chief Minister would intervene if there was nothing to hide, adding that the truth would eventually emerge.

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