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Eight TMC MPs were detained by the police after staging a dharna outside the office of Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday afternoon. The development came even as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee geared up to lead a protest march in Kolkata following Enforcement Directorate raids at the IPAC office. The party has accused BJP of “misusing” central agencies and leading an “assault on democracy”.
The ED had sparked outrage after leading raids against I-PAC and its chief Pratik Jain on Thursday — allegedly in connection with a coal scam. The agency provides political consultancy services to the TMC and manages its IT and media operations. Banerjee has accused the ED of attempting to seize the Trinamool Congress’ internal data and election strategy during the searches. The CM termed the raids “political vendetta” and alleged misuse of central agencies to intimidate opposition parties. TMC leaders have maintained that I-PAC was being targeted to gain access to sensitive internal documents.
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TMC MPs dragged away by police
A police officer said several party leaders including Derek O’Brien and Mahua Moitra were detained and taken to Parliament Street Police Station. Visuals shared online showed the lawmakers being lifted and dragged into a police van while they protested in Delhi. The TMC MPs had raised slogans and waved placards as they tried to forcibly enter Kartavya Bhawan in Delhi. They staged a protest at the gate upon being denied entry — later being forcibly evicted from the site by Delhi Police.
“What kind of arrogance is this Amit Shah? Are you now using your Delhi Police to assault elected representatives just to crush democracy? Is this how dissent is silenced in your India? Admit it, you are rattled! First, the shameless misuse of the ED. Now, an attack on the peaceful dharna of our eight MPs. This desperation exposes your fear. You may try to choke democracy, but Bengal will not be cowed. Shame on you and your police!” the party wrote on its official X handle.
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Mamata Banerjee leads protest
The West Bengal Chief Minister is slated to lead a protest in Kolkata following the ED raids. She alleged that the central agency had seized party-related materials — including hard disks, candidate lists and strategic documents — ahead of the elections, and accused Amit Shah of misusing central agencies. Meanwhile the ED has accused Banerjee of entering the residential premises of IPAC director Prateek Jain during its search operation and taking away “key evidence” including physical documents and electronic devices.
“Is it the duty of the ED, Amit Shah, to collect the party’s hard disk, candidate list? The nasty, naughty Home Minister who cannot protect the country is taking away all my party documents. If Amit Shah wants Bengal, then come, fight democratically, and win. Everyone must know what kind of operation has been carried out. At 6:00 am, they arrived and seized the party’s data, laptops, strategies, and mobile phones. Their forensic experts transferred all the data. I believe this is a crime,” Banerjee told reporters.
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Live Updates
12:56 (IST) 9 Jan 2026
ED vs TMC LIVE: Bengal Governor says Mamata Banerjee 'violated constitutional right to continue as CM'
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has flagged legal and constitutional repercussions for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's intervention during the Enforcement Directorate raid. He told ANI that her actions were punishable under law and violate constitutional rights.
12:48 (IST) 9 Jan 2026
ED vs TMC Live: TMC MP Mahua Moitra slams ‘information loot’ by probe agency
"You have seen how the government is using the ED as their agency to steal information, election strategy of their political opponents. ED was sent to the office of our political consultant for dacoity of information. They are talking about some 7-8 years old coal scam, you didn't get time to gather information in all these years. Mamata Banerjee showed how to fight against them. People of Bengal will teach them a lesson," she told PTI.
12:31 (IST) 9 Jan 2026
ED vs TMC Live: Heightened security at ED Kolkata office after I-PAC raid
Security has been tightened and additional officials deployed at the Enforcement Directorate office in Kolkata following the I-PAC raids.
https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/2009513960694010009
12:23 (IST) 9 Jan 2026
ED vs TMC Live: ED seeks CBI probe against CM Mamata, top cops
The Enforcement Directorate has approached the Calcutta High Court seeking a CBI investigation into the role of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, senior police officials and others for allegedly obstructing its raids in Kolkata.
The writ petition reviewed by PTI indicated that the probe agency has also sought "immediate seizure, sealing, forensic preservation, and restoration to lawful custody of the ED" all digital devices, electronic records, storage media, and documents "illegally and forcibly" taken away from the search premises.
The high court is expected to hear the petition on Friday.
12:21 (IST) 9 Jan 2026
ED vs TMC Live: TMC moves Calcutta High Court
TMC has moved the Calcutta High Court seeking restraint on 'misuse, dissemination' of documents seized by ED during the I-PAC raids.
12:18 (IST) 9 Jan 2026
ED vs TMC Live: BJP delegation to meet West Bengal governor over ED row
According to an ANI update, a BJP delegation will meet West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose at 12.30 pm. The party is expected to submit a memorandum on the unfolding political situation.
"I have received petitions and representations from the public. Three legal points raised in those petitions are: number one, preventing a public servant from discharging his duties is a criminal offence...Secondly, intimidating or threatening a public servant in the discharge of his duties is a severe offence, which will attract a punishment of two years and a fine, or both," he told ANI upon being asked about the ED raid at the I-PAC office.
"The third is that this is an allegation given to me by the lawyers... The third point which they are raising is that a constitutional authority is supposed to protect the constitution. If such an authority disobeys the Constitution, that authority has no right to continue in that office... I do not want to risk a knee-jerk reaction now..." he added.
12:09 (IST) 9 Jan 2026
ED vs TMC Live: Abhishek Banerjee hits out at centre - 'Agencies weaponised, democracy punished'
TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee accused the Narendra Modi government of "weaponising agencies" to suppress democracy. He said that jailing protestors and granting bail to rapists was the BJP's version of new India.
"Democracy is punished. Criminals are rewarded. Agencies are weaponised. Elections are manipulated. JAIL the PROTESTERS. BAIL the RAPISTS. This is the BJP's version of New India," he wrote on X.
12:01 (IST) 9 Jan 2026
ED vs TMC LIVE: Mahua Moitra detained by Delhi Police, lashes out at BJP | Video
https://twitter.com/MahuaMoitra/status/2009496132226044129
11:59 (IST) 9 Jan 2026
ED vs TMC LIVE: MPs detained while staging protest outside Amit Shah's office in Delhi
Trinamool Congress MPs staged a protest outside the Home Ministry's office in Delhi on Friday. They were agitating against alleged misuse of probe agencies by the Centre following Enforcement Directorate raids at the office of political consultancy I-PAC and the residence of its chief.
TMC leaders claimed they were forcefully evicted from their protest site and subsequently detained by the police. A police officer told PTI that TMC MPs Derek O'Brien and Mahua Moitra, along with other party leaders, were detained and taken to the Parliament Street Police Station. |
