08 January,2026 08:06 PM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondent
The ED claimed that CM Mamata Banerjee entered the residential premises of I-PAC director. File Pic
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will reportedly lead a protest in Kolkata on Friday, January 9 following the ED raids at I-PAC office in West Bengal in connection with the alleged fake government job scam, reported the ANI.
The ED claimed that Banerjee allegedly entered the residential premises of I-PAC director Prateek Jain during its search operation and allegedly removed key evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices.
In a statement, the ED said its search proceedings were conducted 'peacefully and professionally' until the arrival of Banerjee, accompanied by several police officials. According to the agency, the Chief Minister took away documents and electronic devices during the operation, as per the ANI.
The ED is investigating whether the removal of documents interfered with its ongoing probe into the alleged scam involving fake government jobs.
Earlier, Banerjee reportedly visited the I-PAC office on a public road and accused the central agency of unlawfully seizing party-related laptops, mobile phones, and strategic documents. She called the raid a 'crime' and challenged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to contest the political battle democratically in West Bengal, according to the ANI.
The Chief Minister insisted that I-PAC is not a private firm but an authorised team of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC).
She alleged that the ED confiscated sensitive party documents, including data linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, despite the TMC being a registered political party that regularly submits income tax returns, the news agency reported.
The BJP sharply criticised Banerjee for her actions during the raid. In a post on X, the party said her presence at the site "raised disturbing questions" and suggested a "deeper conspiracy", reported the ANIK.
The BJP added that the sight of a sitting Chief Minister rushing to an investigation site to secure party files and hard disks appeared to be an attempt to hide incriminating evidence, rather than mere damage control.
They questioned, "If there is nothing to hide in West Bengal, why would a Chief Minister scramble to secure files from an official investigation site?" The party asserted that the truth would eventually emerge, claiming that Bengal would vote in favour of the BJP in response, the news agency reported.
(with ANI inputs)
