ED Honours Officers for Handling High-Stakes Kolkata Raid Amid Political Storm

Two officers of the Enforcement Directorate have been awarded commendation certificates for their role in handling one of the most high-profile and politically sensitive search operations earlier this year.

Assistant Directors Vikram Ahlawat and Prashant Chandila were felicitated at the agency’s 70th ED Day event, with the awards presented by Pankaj Chaudhary , who attended as the chief guest.

The recognition stems from their involvement in the January 8 searches conducted at the Kolkata office of political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee in Salt Lake and the residence of its director Pratik Jain . The operation triggered a major political controversy after Mamata Banerjee personally visited both locations along with state officials, leading to a tense standoff with central agency personnel.

According to official citations, Ahlawat was honoured for his “exceptional composure” during the sensitive operation. He continuously documented developments through detailed incident reports, which later enabled the agency to place its version of events before the Supreme Court of India.

Chandila, meanwhile, was recognised for “exceptional professional courage” and presence of mind during what the agency described as an “unprecedented” situation. He meticulously prepared contemporaneous panchnamas formal records of search proceedings which served as crucial primary evidence during judicial hearings.

The raid itself drew national attention, with the ED alleging “gross abuse of power” and approaching both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court seeking further investigation. The ruling All India Trinamool Congress, however, accused the agency of attempting to access sensitive election strategy documents.

While the specific case was not mentioned during the award ceremony, officials confirmed that the commendations were linked to the January Kolkata operation. The honours, the agency said, recognise investigators who demonstrate dedication, professionalism, and the ability to function effectively under intense pressure and scrutiny .