New Delhi: Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths on Thursday carried out fresh searches across multiple addresses linked to executives of political consultancy I-PAC (Indian Political Action Committee) (I-PAC) and others as part of the ongoing West Bengal coal smuggling and pilferage probe.
Searches were conducted simultaneously in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi to follow up on prior raids in the case. “The raids are a continuation of the searches conducted earlier in the case,” an ED officer was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
Searches zeroed in on properties connected to Rishi Raj Singh, co-founder and director of I-PAC.
This follows January’s actions at the firm’s office and the Kolkata home of founder Pratik Jain. Known for steering election campaigns for several parties nationwide, I-PAC is presently engaged by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) under Mamata Banerjee.
According to ED officials, Rishi Raj along with another key member, received recent summons for interrogation. The duo has filed petitions in Delhi High Court to annul these notices, pointing to their heavy involvement in active election duties across West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
At the heart of the ED probe lies an alleged scam involving illicit mining and rerouting of coal from Eastern Coalfields Limited pits – a unit under Coal India Limited. Central agencies claim it encompasses massive unauthorised extraction and sales.
The focus has been on money laundering from these illicit gains, with earlier operations hitting entrepreneurs, logistics players, and figures with political ties suspected in the syndicate. Scrutiny has extended to money flows tied to advisory services and campaign activities, pulling I-PAC leaders into the spotlight.
