ED Vs Mamata LIVE: 'Proceeds Of Coal Scam Go To Amit Shah', Says Bengal CM At Protest Rally Against Raids On I-PAC

West Bengal BJP Mahila Morcha held a protest march from Rabindra Sarovar to Deshapriya Park in Kolkata against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. BJP leader Phalguni Patra said their protest will continue till the Trinamool Congress government is thrown out of the state. "This is a government of thieves. She goes to the police stations to get criminals released, and when ED officials came for investigations, CM herself reached there to snatch away files and documents," Patra said.

Addressing the protesters during the rally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she did not do anything wrong by confronting the ED and called the BJP government "shameless" and "rioters". Banerjee said she has kept silent so far but will not do so if Centre continued to pressurise her.

Banerjee alleged that the proceeds from the coal scam go to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, claiming the funds are routed through BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar and Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. "I'm staying silent out of respect of the chair I hold. If you push me be ready to face the consequences,"

Banerjee also said she will reveal the alleged coal scam and expose contents of the pen drives if she is pushed further. "I have all the pen drives and will expose everything and everyone," she warned.

"When they attack me, I get renewed energy. Those who defame us don't know our workers, who are ready to face any challenge with smiling faces," she said.

Hitting out at the BJP, she said, "When rioters are in power what else can be expected?". If any votes were deleted or voting rights snatched, she would also snatch BJP government's rights, she added.

The CM said BJP's death knell will be rung and the party needs to be eliminated for the safety of the nation. She said that if BJP leaders try to escape to the moon after being defeated in the Centre, she would bring them back to face the public.

A BJP delegation met Governor CV Ananda Bose in connection with the ED raid on I-PAC and CM Mamata Banerjee's protest against it. BJP leader Locket Chatterjee later said, "The drama we saw yesterday was unprecedented in India's history. This was the first time we saw something of this kind. ED had come to raid an organisation in connection with a 2020 coal scam, but Mamata Banerjee herself reached there. There is something there that is why she came to IPAC and took the hard disk and files with her. Have you seen any other CM dare to steal all the evidence in front of everyone? TMC is a corrupt party, and the whole country is seeing this now"

The Enforcement Department approached the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, Sujoy Paul, for an urgent hearing into TMC's alleged misconduct during the agency's raids on I-PAC after the hearing was adjourned to January 14. Chaos erupted in the High Court and despite repeated requests from Justice Suvra Ghosh to restore order, the uproar continued. Resulting which, Justice Ghosh left the courtroom without the hearing.

After this, the ED approached the Chief Justice requesting an urgent hearing of the case. The Chief Justice asked ED to mail a detailed request. ED filed an application. However, court sources said the Chief Justice verbally informed the lawyers of both sides that he would not interfere with the single-bench order. This means that the hearing of the case will be held on January 14.

On the court adjourning hearing, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said, "The court was overcrowded, the judge asked everyone except the concerned lawyers and their assistants to leave the court due to overcrowding. The next hearing is on January 14."

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit out at the BJP over the detention of MPs staging protest out Union Minister Amit Shah's house earlier this morning in Delhi. "We condemn the shameful and unacceptable treatment meted out to our Members of Parliament. Dragging elected representatives on the streets for exercising their democratic right to protest outside the Home Minister’s office is not law enforcement - it is arrogance in uniform," posted on her X handle.

"This is a democracy, not the BJP’s private property. Democracy does not function on the convenience or comfort of those in power. When BJP leaders protest, they expect red carpets and special privileges. When opposition MPs raise their voices, they are dragged, detained, and humiliated. This double standard exposes the BJP’s idea of democracy - obedience, not dissent," she added.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is leading a mega protest march against the ED's raids on I-PAC office and its director's residence on Thursday. The rally began from Jadavpur 8B bus stand, where a large number of party leaders and workers had gathered. Slogans were raised against alleged misuse of Central agencies. A huge police force has been deployed in the area. Likewise all rallies, it is star-studded with actor-politicians Dev and Sohan Chakraborty along with many familiar faces from the Bengali film and television industry.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday filed a writ petition before the Calcutta High Court, accusing West Bengal Police, allegedly acting in collusion with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, of obstructing its officials and failing to discharge their public duty in "flagrant and blatant disregard to law" during an ongoing search operation in Kolkata carried out on January 8.

In the 28-page petition, the ED said the state police prevented its officers from carrying out their official duties under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The agency alleged that the situation escalated after the Chief Minister on Thursday entered the residential premises of Prateek Jain, director of political consultancy firm I-PAC, during an ED search and took away what the agency described as "key evidence", including physical documents and electronic devices. (ANI)

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday lashed out at TMC for staging a protest at Union Home Minister Amit Shah's residence following ED raid at I-PAC office. "What else will they (TMC MPs) do? There are colleagues in the Parliament, yet this is completely irresponsible. Sometimes they go and try to Gherao the Election Commission; now they are approaching the Home Minister. This means the TMC’s MPs are acting as front-line defenders to conceal their party’s corruption. Is this acceptable?"

Following detention, TMC MP Mahua Moitra alleged that the raid on I-PAC office was in fact a "robbery' by ED to take away all information of TMC. She questioned why the agency suddenly woke up over a seven-year-old scam just before the assembly elections in the state.

"ED is not carrying out the investigation but is illegally stealing. ED is not taking any action because if there was a seven-year-old coal scam, it suddenly woke up, a month before the Bengal elections, and they remembered the idea of ​​taking action, and where did they go to take action? I-PAC is not a hidden organization. Everyone in India knows that I-PAC is an election strategist, an election consultant. They've been working with the Trinamool Congress not just from today, but for the last seven or eight years, and all our services, all our candidate lists, all our election information is with I-PAC because that's what they do," she told media.

"They (ED) raided their office. We would say it wasn't a raid, the ED committed a robbery, and they were taking all our information, and it's our duty, it's our party's duty to protect that information, and that's where Mamata Banerjee, the lioness, went...Only Mamata Banerjee can stop them like this, and this morning, eight of us MPs came and we were protesting outside the Home Ministry. We were peacefully protesting, and you saw how they picked us up, dragged us, and brought us here..." Mahua alleged.

AITC MP Abhishek Banerjee launched an attack on the BJP-led Central government saying the saffron party is weaponising investigative agencies to force opposition to "surrender". He said, "Democracy is punished. Criminals are rewarded. Agencies are weaponised. Elections are manipulated. JAIL the PROTESTERS. BAIL the RAPISTS. This is BJP’s version of New India."

"Even if the rest of the country is forced to surrender, Bengal will resist. We will fight you tooth and nail and defeat you, no matter how much force you unleash," the Parliamentarian said in a post on X.

The Trinamool Congress on Friday filed a petition in Calcutta High Court mentioning that confidential data has been "seized illegally" by the Enforcement Directorate. In the petition, TMC stated that it has been standing up and protesting against SIR in Bengal, which is why ED is searching TMC's political strategy office (IPAC) and the residence of the co-founder to "seize confidential data".

Amid all developments, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has received an email threatening of eliminating him. The email stated - 'Will Blast Him'. In view of the tense situation, the Governor's security has been increased. The matter has been briefed to the Union Home Minister while the state police and CRPF are now acting in unison to protect the Governor. A midnight conclave of the security forces in charge of the Governor's security was also held, informed Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Governor.

Reacting to the threatening email, BJP leader and party's IT cell head Amit Malviya said law and order has collapsed in West Bengal. "Welcome to Mamata Banerjee’s regime, where even the Governor is not safe. Law and order has completely collapsed in West Bengal. The Home Minister, Mamata Banerjee, is busy snatching incriminating files from the ED in order to protect a private firm accused of coal smuggling and money laundering. Mamata Banerjee is an unmitigated disaster," he said in a post on X.

Strongly condemning police action against TMC MPs protesting outside Amit Shah's Office, All India Trinamool Congress hit out at the Union Home Minister, questioning him whether he is using Delhi Police to assault elected representatives and "crush democracy".

"What kind of arrogance is this, @AmitShah? Are you now using your Delhi Police to assault elected representatives just to crush democracy? Is this how dissent is silenced in your India? Admit it, YOU ARE RATTLED! First, the shameless misuse of the ED. Now, an attack on the peaceful dharna of our eight MPs. This desperation exposes your fear. You may try to choke democracy, but Bengal will not be cowed. Shame on you and your police!," the party said.

Delhi police detained Derek O'Brien, Mahua Moitra, and others, lifting them up and dragging them to the police van. Derek O'Brien, as he was being dragged by police personnel, said, "You are seeing what is happening to the MPs here".

Mahua Moitra, who the police lifted from the protest spot, said, "We will defeat the BJP. The country is seeing how the Delhi Police is treating an elected MP." Protesting the ED raid, TMC MP Satabdi Roy said that the Centre sends its investigative agencies during elections to win.

Read More: TMC MPs Detained For Protesting Outside Amit Shah's Office, Allege 'Misuse' Of ED

A day after ED launched raids at I-PAC's office in Kolkata, TMC MPs staged protest outside Union Home Minister Amit Shah's office with placards reading "Bengal rejects Modi-Shah's dirty politics".