A day after his late-night arrest, Vinesh Chandel, co-founder and director of TMC’s political consultancy firm I-PAC, has been remanded to 10 days of Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody by a special court in Delhi in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the coal smuggling case in West Bengal.
Chandel was taken into custody on Monday night under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) following prolonged interrogation. According to ED officials, the arrest was made on allegations that funds generated from illegal coal smuggling were routed into I-PAC’s accounts through the hawala network.
The development has triggered a strong political reaction, with Abhishek Banerjee terming the arrest “an act of intimidation.” In a post on social media platform X, the TMC National General Secretary alleged that the timing of the arrest — just days ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections — raises concerns about the fairness of the electoral process.
“This is not just alarming — it shakes the very idea of a level playing field,” Banerjee wrote, adding that such actions create an atmosphere of fear and undermine democratic institutions.
The ED’s action is part of a broader investigation into the alleged coal smuggling racket in Bengal. Earlier, on April 2, the agency had conducted searches at Chandel’s residence in Delhi. Simultaneous raids were also carried out at multiple locations, including the Bengaluru residence of Rishi Raj Singh, another co-founder of I-PAC, and the Mumbai residence of Vijay Nair, a former public relations official associated with the Aam Aadmi Party.
The probe has also seen earlier searches at I-PAC’s Kolkata office and the residence of its founding director Pratik Jain. During those raids in January, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had visited the premises, an episode that escalated political tensions. The ED later moved the Supreme Court of India over the matter. However, the hearing on the petition has been adjourned indefinitely.
Banerjee further alleged “double standards” in the functioning of central agencies, claiming that individuals facing corruption charges receive protection upon switching political allegiance, while others are targeted selectively. He also questioned the role of institutions such as the Election Commission and investigative agencies during the election period.
Since 2021, I-PAC has been serving as a political consultancy firm for the Trinamool Congress and the West Bengal government. The organisation has not issued any official statement regarding Chandel’s arrest so far.
Also read: ED arrests I-PAC director Vinesh Chandel in money laundering case
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