"Breakdown of constitutional machinery": Samik Bhattacharya targets Mamata Banerjee over ED raids in Kolkata

Speaking to the media, Bhattacharya said, "No one knows what the truth is and what is false. But it is clear that Didi (Mamata Banerjee) reached there to snatch the file and the important documents. Our country's economy is being compromised. A state's chief minister attacked a central government official, snatching his documents, and took the Chief Secretary and Director General along. This is not just a Constitutional crisis, but a breakdown of the Constitutional machinery."

Bhattacharya's remarks came amid escalating political tensions following ED searches at the Kolkata headquarters of I-PAC, a political consultancy firm linked to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), and at the residence of its director, Pratik Jain. The ED has approached the Supreme Court, alleging interference and obstruction by the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government during its search operations, and has sought directions for a CBI probe into the matter.

Anticipating the ED's move, the West Bengal government has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court, requesting that no order be passed without hearing the state. Separately, it has moved the Calcutta High Court, alleging that the ED seized all data and digital records from I-PAC's office. The state government has sought directions to the ED to return all seized materials, including private, sensitive and confidential data, claiming the information belongs to the TMC and relates to its internal party operations.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has questioned the legality of the raids, alleging a conspiracy to "steal" the TMC's election-related data. A day after the searches, she led a street protest in Kolkata, while several TMC MPs demonstrated outside the Union Home Ministry in Delhi.

Addressing supporters, Banerjee accused central agencies of harassing ordinary people and claimed documents were seized without proper receipts. (ANI)