The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday carried out a new round of searches at premises linked to the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) as part of its ongoing investigation into the alleged West Bengal coal smuggling case.
The raids were conducted simultaneously across Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, targeting locations associated with the political consultancy firm. Among those under scrutiny was the Bengaluru residence of I-PAC director Rishi Raj Singh.
Officials said the action is part of a broader probe into suspected money laundering and hawala transactions connected to the coal smuggling racket. The case has already seen multiple raids and arrests over the past few years.
I-PAC has played a key role in strategising election campaigns for the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, particularly in recent elections.
Earlier in January, the ED had also searched I-PAC’s office in Kolkata and premises linked to another director, Pratik Jain, in connection with the same case.
Those raids triggered a political controversy after Mamata Banerjee and several party leaders reached the Salt Lake office during the operation.
The ED alleged that important documents and electronic evidence were removed during that time, a claim denied by Banerjee.
Subsequently, the agency approached the courts seeking an independent investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing alleged interference by the state government.
According to the ED, nearly Rs 10 crore in suspected proceeds of crime were routed to I-PAC through hawala channels.
The funds were allegedly linked to payments made by the Trinamool Congress for election-related services, including the 2022 Goa Assembly polls.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to examine financial trails and potential links in the case.