A pre-dawn search operation at the Kolkata residence of Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday led to a fresh political confrontation in West Bengal with party chief Mamata Banerjee rushing to the premises and the TMC accusing authorities of political vendetta.Teams from Shalbani police station in Paschim Medinipur, accompanied by Kolkata Police personnel, arrived at Abhishek Banerjee’s residence in the Patuapara area of Kalighat shortly after 3 am. Central forces were deployed outside the house while officers carried out the operation, which continued for more than four hours.According to sources, the search was linked to a case involving Sumit Roy, an aide and personal assistant to the Diamond Harbour MP.Police personnel were seen moving in and out of the residence during the operation. However, officials did not immediately provide detailed information about the nature of the case or the specific purpose of the search.The development quickly attracted political attention with Mamata Banerjee reaching her nephew’s residence soon after news of the operation became public. Sources said the TMC supremo spent some time inside the house before leaving. Her visit highlighted the significance attached by the party to the operation, which comes at a time when the TMC is facing legal challenges, organisational strains and increasing political pressure after its Assembly election defeat.After emerging from the residence, a visibly annoyed Abhishek Banerjee questioned the necessity of the search and challenged investigators to explain what they had recovered. Without directly commenting on the details of the case, he said the agencies conducting the operation should themselves clarify whether they had found anything inside the house.Banerjee also alleged that officers broke open a lock before entering the premises and subsequently searched every room in the residence. Responding to speculation that his aide was being sheltered there, he dismissed the suggestion and questioned the basis on which such assumptions were being made.His remarks appeared aimed at shifting attention to the conduct of the investigation and raising questions about the scale of the operation. The TMC leader has repeatedly accused central agencies and authorities of selectively targeting Opposition leaders, an allegation frequently rejected by the BJP and investigating agencies.The Trinamool Congress reacted strongly to Saturday’s developments. In a post on X, the party described the operation as an example of political vendetta and alleged that efforts were being made to target Opposition leaders through investigative actions.The search comes amid heightened political activity in West Bengal where relations between the ruling TMC and central agencies have remained strained for several years. Investigations involving several party leaders have often triggered sharp political exchanges between the state’s ruling dispensation and the BJP-led Centre.While officials remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the case linked to the operation, Saturday’s developments are likely to add another layer to the ongoing political contest in the state with both sides expected to continue trading allegations over the circumstances and timing of the search.