The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate the alleged interruption of its raids at the offices of political consultancy firm I-PAC and its co-founder Pratik Jain in Kolkata. The ED says West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, state officials, and others blocked the raids. The intervention has reportedly derailed a lawful probe into coal smuggling. The ED claims that important physical and electronic evidence linked to the investigation was taken away. They said the raids were bulldozed, causing a "gross obstruction of justice." The raid locations turned into scenes of a "showdown" thanks to illegal state interference. West Bengal has already filed a caveat in the Supreme Court. This move aims to prevent any ex-parte orders that might help the ED without hearing the state first. Regarding the enforcement actions, the ED also approached the Calcutta High Court. It wants criminal action against Mamata Banerjee and officials for disrupting the raids done under legal rules. The High Court hearing on this was paused on January 10, 2026, and will continue on January 14. Meanwhile, the state has filed counter petitions challenging ED’s claims. The Trinamool Congress party had worked with I-PAC over recent years. I-PAC helped shape the party's election strategy in the 2021 West Bengal Assembly election and other polls. The ED said the raids relate to a coal smuggling and hawala money laundering probe. It added the raids followed strict legal procedures. The agency clarified, "It is clarified that the search is evidence-based and is not targeted at any political establishment. No party office has been searched. The search is not linked to any elections, and is part of regular crackdown on money laundering."