ED Chief to Review Kolkata Office Amid Ongoing TMC-Election Row

Image Source: Internet

The Enforcement Directorate's (ED) chief, Rahul Navin, is set to visit the Kolkata office on Thursday, a routine review that comes weeks after a high-profile raid on the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) sparked a heated debate. Navin's visit will focus on assessing the working conditions, security arrangements, and staff morale at the eastern regional office. He will also meet with officers to gather feedback on the performance and discuss pending cases in the courts. The ED's actions on January 8 at I-PAC, a consultancy firm advising the Trinamool Congress (TMC), have been mired in controversy. The agency claims its team was obstructed by West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and police officers, who allegedly took away evidence, including electronic devices. The matter is currently before the Supreme Court, with the ED seeking action against Mamata Banerjee. TMC, however, alleges that the ED was trying to seize election-strategy-related documents from I-PAC just ahead of the state assembly polls. This visit marks Navin's regular check-ins with regional offices. In January 2024, he had visited the Kolkata office following an attack on the agency's search team in Sandeshkhali. The ED chief will likely use this opportunity to address any concerns and strengthen the office's operations.