ED officers who clashed with CM Mamata got big honour, government gave citation on 70th foundation day

ED Officers Honored For I-PAC Raid: ED officers Assistant Director Vikram Ahlawat and Prashant Chandila, who raided I-PAC hideouts in West Bengal, have been honored on the 70th foundation day of ED. Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary attended the 70th Foundation Day program of ED as the chief guest. In the program, Pankaj Choudhary congratulated both the officers. Awarded a certificate for excellent work during the raid in Bengal. Let us tell you that on January 8, 2026, ED had raided the office of I-PAC located at Salt Lake in West Bengal and the house of company director Prateek Jain in Loudon Street.

This raid conducted by ED was in the news a lot. According to Ahlawat’s citation, the officer showed extraordinary restraint during the sensitive ED raid. During this time he continuously recorded the incident in reports. On the basis of this, ED was able to bring the incident to the notice of the Supreme Court.

What is the whole matter?

In connection with the investigation of the coal smuggling case, the Enforcement Directorate had raided the Salt Lake location of Kolkata I-Pack and the residence of the company’s director Prateek Jain in West Bengal on January 8, 2026. State Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached the spot protesting against this action taken by ED. Expressing objection to the action, she left with some files. ED approached the Supreme Court regarding the matter. Accused the Chief Minister of obstructing the legal action.

This is like endangering democracy.

While hearing the case, the Supreme Court strongly criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. While hearing the petition, the court said that the framers of the Constitution would not have even imagined such a situation that a Chief Minister could ever interfere in the investigation by central agencies. The court said that this is like endangering democracy.

Also read- Voting begins again in Diamond Harbor and Magarhat, tight security of security personnel at polling centers

‘Judges were also taken hostage’

While hearing the case, the bench of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice NV Anjaria made strict remarks. He said do not try to make it a matter of state versus centre. In the case, the state government’s lawyer raised questions on the ED officials coming directly to the Supreme Court. On this the Supreme Court said that we know what the situation is there. The judges working as SIR in the state were also taken hostage and you are saying that the ED should have gone to the local magistrate.