West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday visited the residence of Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) chief Pratik Jain amid ongoing searches by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), triggering a major political confrontation in Kolkata.

Banerjee reached Jain’s house around noon, shortly after Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma arrived at the location. She remained there for nearly 20 to 25 minutes before stepping out with a green folder, alleging that the central agency was attempting to seize sensitive digital data and internal documents belonging to the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Addressing reporters outside the residence, the chief minister claimed that the ED raid targeted the party’s IT cell and involved the confiscation of hard disks, mobile phones, laptops and documents related to candidate selection and internal election strategy.

“ED raided my IT sector office and searched the residence of the in-charge of my IT sector. They were confiscating my party’s documents and hard disks which have details about our assembly election candidates. I have brought those back,” Banerjee said.

She described the searches as politically motivated and unconstitutional, alleging that central agencies were being used to intimidate opposition parties ahead of elections.

Banerjee accuses Amit Shah of political vendetta

Escalating her attack, Banerjee targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of misusing constitutional institutions for political purposes.

“This is not law enforcement, this is political vendetta. The home minister is behaving like the nastiest home minister, not someone who protects the country,” she alleged.

The chief minister also claimed that ED officials attempted to take away a laptop from the premises and were selectively collecting political data. She further alleged that names of more than 15 lakh voters from West Bengal had been deleted from electoral rolls without proper explanation.

Meanwhile, searches were also conducted at the office of I-PAC, the political consultancy firm headed by Jain, as part of the same operation.

What the ED said

In an official statement, the ED rejected the allegations and clarified that the searches were evidence-based and not directed at any political party or office.

“Search is ongoing at 10 places — six in West Bengal and four in Delhi. The case relates to illegal coal smuggling. The search covers various premises linked to generation of cash and hawala transfers,” the agency said.

The ED maintained that the action was part of a routine investigation into money laundering and had no connection with elections. It also alleged that certain individuals, including constitutional functionaries, had illegally intruded into two of the searched premises and forcibly taken away documents.

Ahead of his scheduled visit to the Somnath Temple on January 11, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that repeated historical attacks on the shrine failed to weaken India’s spiritual foundations and instead strengthened the country’s cultural unity.

In a message shared on social media platform X, the prime minister reflected on the first recorded attack on the Somnath Temple in January 1026 and the several assaults that followed over the centuries. He said these events could not break the faith of the people, leading instead to the temple being rebuilt time and again as a symbol of civilisational continuity.

“The attack of the year 1026 and the numerous assaults that followed thereafter could not shake our eternal faith. On the contrary, these strengthened the sentiment of India’s cultural unity,” the prime minister wrote, while sharing images from his earlier visits to the temple.

PM Modi said the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, which begins on January 8, is being observed as a festival of remembrance, honouring generations of Indians who upheld their values and cultural consciousness even during the most difficult periods.

He noted that their steadfast commitment to civilisation and national unity continues to inspire the country today. According to the prime minister, the thousand-year legacy of faith associated with Somnath serves as a reminder of India’s enduring spiritual resolve.

Recalling Somnath’s reconstruction and national leaders’ role

The prime minister also shared visuals from a programme held at Somnath on October 31, 2001, marking 50 years since the temple’s reconstruction and inauguration in 1951.

He recalled that the historic ceremony in 1951 was attended by then President Dr Rajendra Prasad and highlighted the key role played by leaders such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and K M Munshi in rebuilding the shrine after Independence.

PM Modi further noted that the 2001 event saw the participation of senior national leaders, and added that the year 2026 will mark the 75th anniversary of the 1951 inauguration ceremony.

The prime minister is scheduled to visit the Somnath Temple on January 11 to take part in the concluding events of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv.

The four-day observance, running from January 8 to January 11, will feature programmes focused on India’s spiritual heritage, cultural pride and social values.

US President Donald Trump has backed a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could allow the United States to impose tariffs of up to 500 per cent on countries purchasing Russian oil or uranium, a move that may impact nations such as India, China and Brazil.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said Trump has “greenlit” the proposed legislation, which is aimed at increasing economic pressure on Moscow as the administration continues negotiations to end the Ukraine war.

What the Russia sanctions bill proposes

If passed, the Graham-Blumenthal sanctions bill would authorise the US President to impose steep tariffs and secondary sanctions on countries that knowingly buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. The bill argues that such trade helps finance Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military campaign in Ukraine.

The proposed sanctions are designed to significantly restrict Russia’s revenue streams at a time when the conflict is nearing its fourth year.

Trump’s support and Senate timeline

Graham said he met Trump at the White House on Wednesday, where the President expressed support for the bill that has been under preparation for several months.

“This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent,” Graham said in a statement.

The senator added that a Senate vote could take place as early as next week, although the timeline remains uncertain. The Senate is expected to focus first on a government funding package, followed by a recess linked to Martin Luther King Jr Day.

Wider political backing

The legislation has dozens of co-sponsors in the Senate and a companion bill in the House of Representatives. While the White House has previously sought revisions to retain flexibility for the President, it remains unclear whether changes have been incorporated.

The Trump administration is currently attempting to finalise a peace deal to end the Ukraine conflict, with special envoys leading negotiations on Washington’s behalf.