Police and central force personnel outside I-PAC director Pratik Jain’s residence at Loudon Street in Kolkata during the ED raid on Jan 8
KOLKATA: Local police began identifying ED officials and Central Armed Police Force personnel allegedly involved in “theft of documents” during ED searches at I-PAC chief Pratik Jain’s residence on Loudon Street in central Kolkata and the political consultancy’s Sector V office in Salt Lake on Jan 8. Saturday’s move follows two FIRs lodged by CM Mamata Banerjee at Shakespeare Sarani police station in south-central Kolkata and Electronic Complex police station in Salt Lake. Investigators are collecting and analysing CCTV footage from both locations, underscoring its importance after ED sought a court order to freeze the recordings. Police said the digital video recorder from the Loudon Street building has been seized and sent to a forensic lab to help establish identities of those involved in an alleged scuffle with DCP (South). “The building’s facility manager was asked to submit names of employees on duty on Jan 8. Statements of Jain and his family will be recorded as required,” a police source said. Officers from Shakespeare Sarani police station visited Jain’s home Saturday morning to collect CCTV footage and DVR recordings. Police have spoken to guards and a housekeeper present during the search and plan to question maintenance staff Sunday. In Salt Lake, Bidhannagar police are preparing to question I-PAC employees who were at the office during the search. “Once we identify central agency personnel, notices will be issued as required for statements. Every step will be according to law and strictly need-based,” the source added. Two ED teams reached Loudon Street and Salt Lake around 6.30am on Jan 8 for searches linked to an alleged coal smuggling case. Police said they arrived after receiving information around 9am but were allegedly denied entry. A police sergeant was allegedly pushed, followed by DCP Priyabrata Roy, who police claim was manhandled. ED has denied the allegation. Police commissioner Manoj Verma later reached the Loudon Street site, followed shortly by CM Banerjee, who personally removed documents, files and laptops from Jain’s residence during the ongoing ED action. TMC has raised concern over access to confidential party material linked to SIR of electoral rolls – including booth-level agent details – and documents related to preparations for 2026 Bengal assembly elections during ED’s search.
