In the lead-up to the West Bengal Assembly elections, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) apprehended Vinesh Chandel, a director and co-founder of the political consultancy I-PAC, on Monday. This arrest is connected to a money laundering investigation associated with alleged coal smuggling activities in the state, which is gearing up for polls.
I-PAC, established by Prashant Kishor, a prominent election strategist who has transitioned into politics, is currently overseeing the campaign for the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The elections in West Bengal are scheduled to take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29.
Chandel has been with I-PAC since its founding and is an alumnus of the National Law Institute University (NLIU) in Bhopal. His background includes a brief career in journalism and legal practice at the Supreme Court. He is known for his close ties to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and has played a significant role in TMC activities in both West Bengal and Meghalaya.
An official source disclosed that Chandel was arrested in Delhi under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) late in the evening. He is anticipated to be presented before a special court on the same night, where the ED will request his custody for further investigation.
On April 2, the ED conducted searches at Chandel’s residence in Delhi, as well as properties linked to another I-PAC co-founder, Rishi Raj Singh, in Bengaluru, and Vijay Nair, a former communications head for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), in Mumbai, as part of its ongoing investigation.
The ED’s scrutiny of I-PAC intensified in January when it raided ten locations related to the consultancy, prompting significant drama as Chief Minister Banerjee intervened during a search at the home of I-PAC director Pratik Jain. This led the agency to seek judicial intervention from the High Court. The raids targeted six sites in Kolkata and Bidhannagar, along with four in the national capital, all tied to the coal smuggling and money laundering investigation.
The ED’s actions were predicated on a First Information Report (FIR) from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed in 2020 against Anup Majee, also known as Lala, the alleged leader of a coal smuggling operation. Following this, the ED initiated an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the PMLA.
The agency’s findings suggest that Majee led a smuggling syndicate that illegally extracted coal from Eastern Coalfields Ltd. (ECL) leasehold areas in West Bengal. This coal was reportedly sold to various factories in districts such as Bankura, Bardhaman, and Purulia. The CBI and ED have previously questioned Rujira Banerjee, the spouse of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, regarding potential connections to Majee.
The ED has alleged that their operations against I-PAC were obstructed by Chief Minister Banerjee, who purportedly seized essential documents and equipment during the searches.
In response to Chandel’s arrest, TMC general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee expressed concerns on X, stating that the timing of the arrest, just days before the Bengal elections, is alarming and undermines the concept of fair competition. He criticized the actions as intimidating, suggesting that they send a troubling message to those involved with opposition parties.
Banerjee further pointed out the perceived hypocrisy in the system, noting that individuals with serious corruption allegations often receive protection after switching political allegiances, while others face swift action at politically opportune moments. He warned that when institutions designed to uphold democracy begin to resemble tools for coercion, public trust wanes. His comments highlighted the contrasting roles of the Election Commission and agencies like the ED, NIA, and CBI, which he claims contribute to an atmosphere of fear rather than fairness.
Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he covers significant issues related to the Ministry of Home Affairs and various investigative agencies. He brings a wealth of experience in reporting on crime and anti-corruption initiatives in Delhi.
Ravik Bhattacharya, the Chief of Bureau for The Indian Express in Kolkata, has over two decades of extensive journalism experience, particularly in the realms of politics and investigative reporting across several states, including West Bengal and Odisha.
