ED arrests I-PAC director Vinesh Chandel ahead of West Bengal elections and investigates Kolsa scam

A few days before the West Bengal Assembly elections, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Vinesh Chandel, director and co-founder of political strategy consultancy company I-PAC. He was taken into custody from Delhi on Monday evening in a money laundering case related to the alleged Kolsa scam.

According to the investigating agencies, this case is related to coal smuggling and illegal money transactions worth crores of rupees. It is alleged that huge sums of money were laundered through this network and were delivered to different organizations through various mediums.

ED has claimed that crores of rupees have been transferred through suspicious financial transactions and hawala network, investigation into which is going on for a long time.

I-PAC, popularly known as the Indian Political Action Committee, is one of the leading political consultancy companies in the country, providing election strategy, public relations and campaign management for various political parties. Vinesh Chandel is considered one of the main faces of this company and is said to be one of the founding members. He founded this firm along with Prashant Kishore, Pratik Jain and Rishi Raj Singh.

Investigating agencies have alleged that a part of the money related to this case had also reached I-PAC related organizations. However, the company has consistently denied these allegations.

After the arrest, West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has opposed this action. The party says that such action before the elections is politically motivated and it affects the election atmosphere. TMC has alleged that central agencies are being used to put pressure on opposition parties, which raises questions on the fair election process.

TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, reacting on social media, said that such action before the elections raises questions about the democratic process. He alleged that central agencies become active during the election period and try to create political pressure. He further said that the people of Bengal should not be afraid and such action will be answered politically.

ED action has already been taken in this case also. On April 2, raids were conducted at the places of Vinesh Chandel and other people associated with I-PAC. Investigations were also conducted at multiple locations in Bengaluru and Mumbai, where the premises of senior officials associated with I-PAC and persons associated with former political communications were searched. In January, raids were also conducted at the I-PAC office in Kolkata and the residences of the people concerned.

This entire case is said to be related to money laundering and coal smuggling network worth approximately Rs 2,742 crore. CBI had registered an FIR in this case in the year 2020, after which ED also started its investigation. The agencies claim that through this network, illegal income was converted into legal money through various channels.

There has been political tension between the Center and the state regarding this case for a long time. On one hand, the central agencies are calling it a serious matter of corruption and illegal financial transactions, while on the other hand, TMC is calling it a political vendetta. TMC says that the purpose of such action before the elections may be to affect the strategic system of the party.

Some aspects of this case are pending in the court. ED is also said to have presented some allegations related to the investigation in this case in the court, which also includes the allegation of creating obstacles in the investigation by the state administration.

This arrest has increased the agitation in the politics of the state near the Bengal elections. The investigating agencies have said that this action has been taken on the basis of legal procedure and evidence and it has no connection with the election time.