Kolkata/IBNS, Jan. 8 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee "forcibly removed physical documents and electronic evidence" during raids conducted at the office of political consultancy firm IPAC and the residence of its head, Pratik Jain, in connection with the coal smuggling case.

Rejecting Banerjee's claim that the searches were politically motivated, the ED said the operation was fact-based and not aimed at targeting any political party.

In an official statement, the agency said raids were carried out at 10 locations - six in West Bengal and four in Delhi - as part of its probe, adding that Banerjee allegedly removed files from two premises where searches were underway....