A special court in Delhi has remanded I-PAC co-founder Vinesh Chandel to 10 days in Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody following his arrest in a money-laundering case, sparking political controversy ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the timing of the arrest, calling it “alarming” and a threat to democratic fairness. In a post on X, she said the move, coming just days before polling, undermines the principle of a level playing field.
“The arrest of Vinesh Chandel barely 10 days before the Bengal elections is not just alarming — it shakes the very idea of a level playing field,” Banerjee wrote. She added that such actions send a “chilling message” to those associated with opposition parties, calling it “intimidation” rather than democracy.
Polling in West Bengal is scheduled in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with results to be announced on May 4. The election follows the 2021 Assembly polls, in which the Trinamool Congress retained power with a decisive mandate, while the BJP emerged as the principal opposition after making significant gains.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has announced single-phase elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu, with counting for all states set for May 4.
