Just before the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken major action. ED has arrested Vinesh Chandel, co-founder and director of I-PAC, the election strategy preparation organization of Trinamool Congress (TMC). This arrest from Delhi on Monday, 13 April has created a stir in the politics of Bengal. Chandel is facing serious allegations of being involved in money laundering related to the much talked about coal scam of Bengal.
It is believed that this arrest could be a big blow to TMC’s campaign amid the election atmosphere. Vinesh Chandel has been detained under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This action has taken place at a time when preparations for the two phases of voting in Bengal (April 23 and 29) are in the final stages.
Also read: Why did ED arrest I-PAC director Vinesh Chandel before Bengal elections?
Why was he arrested?
ED investigation has revealed that the money smuggled from the mines of Eastern Coalfields Limited in Asansol area reached I-PAC through illegal routes. The investigating agency alleges that black money of about Rs 20 crore was diverted to the accounts of I-PAC through ‘Hawala’ operators and an ‘Angadiya’ firm of Mumbai. This case is based on the FIR registered by CBI in 2020, the links of which now seem to be linked to political strategists.
Vinesh Chandel’s arrest did not happen suddenly, rather ED was keeping an eye on this syndicate for a long time. On January 8 this year, when the I-PAC office in Kolkata was raided, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself had reached there, due to which a big administrative controversy had arisen. After this, on April 2, raids were conducted on the premises of many officials in Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai. Now after the arrest, ED will try to find out whether the scam money was used in the election campaign.
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Voting is to be held in West Bengal in two phases on 23 and 29 April. As soon as the news of the arrest came, political rhetoric has intensified in Bengal. TMC has called it a ‘desperate attempt’ by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
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