In a major pre-election jolt in West Bengal, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested I-PAC director Vinesh Chandel in connection with the multi-crore coal smuggling case, intensifying the political heat just months before the Assembly elections.

Chandel was arrested in Delhi following fresh leads in the agency’s probe into alleged illegal financial transactions linked to coal smuggling in Bengal.

According to sources, the ED is tracking a controversial ₹20 crore money trail, suspected to have been funnelled into I-PAC. This political consultancy firm has played a key role in multiple high-stakes election campaigns. The case, however, is no longer confined to Bengal.

Investigators are now probing a possible Goa connection, with allegations that part of the laundered funds may have been routed through entities or channels linked to the coastal state.

While the ED has not officially confirmed the Goa trail, sources indicate that financial patterns and transactions under scrutiny suggest a wider interstate network. The crackdown comes amid a series of coordinated raids and summons.

Earlier this month, the ED conducted searches at multiple locations across Delhi, Bengaluru, and Kolkata, including the residences of I-PAC directors Pratik Jain and Rishi Raj Singh, as well as the firm’s Salt Lake Sector V office.

Both Jain and Singh have been summoned for questioning, even as they seek more time from the Delhi High Court to appear before investigators.

The investigation has also reignited a political storm. Just a day before the arrest, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made an ominous remark at a rally, hinting at a late-night “operation” by central agencies.

Her comments are now being viewed in light of the ED’s swift action, further fuelling accusations of political targeting ahead of elections.

The coal scam itself revolves around allegations of large-scale illegal mining and smuggling of coal, with proceeds allegedly laundered through a complex web of shell companies and intermediaries.

The ED believes that tracing the money trail could expose deeper links between political entities, consultants, and financial networks operating across states.

Adding to the controversy, a previous ED search in Kolkata had triggered a massive row when Mamata Banerjee personally entered the premises during the raid and walked out with documents, an incident the agency termed as obstruction, which escalated the matter to the Supreme Court.

With fresh arrests, a widening probe, and now a potential Goa angle, the coal scam has once again taken centre stage in Bengal’s political battlefield. As the ED tightens its grip, the investigation is expected to unearth more explosive details in the days to come, keeping both political camps on edge ahead of a crucial electoral showdown.