Today, On 15th January, I-PAC Raids Row escalates as the Enforcement Directorate tells the Supreme Court that a shocking pattern is emerging. The agency alleges that CM Banerjee barges in during statutory action, accompanied by Police Commissioner, before sitting on a dharna.
The Supreme Court heard a plea from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that calls for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into allegations against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The ED contends that Banerjee interfered with their search operations at the office of I-PAC, a political consultancy firm, and with its co-founder, Pratik Jain.
Additionally, the ED is requesting the return of documents that they assert were taken by the Chief Minister after she blocked their raids.
A bench comprising Justices PK Mishra and Vipul Pancholi heard the matter.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed the Supreme Court that the West Bengal government’s interference and obstruction, particularly from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during its investigation and search at the I-PAC office, as well as at the residence of its chief, reflects a deeply troubling pattern.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, stated before a bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Vipul Pancholi that Banerjee has previously intruded whenever statutory authorities have exercised their powers.
He asserted,
“It reflects a very shocking pattern emerging, When a statutory authority was discharging it’s function… the CM Banerjee barges in, the Commissioner of police comes with her and then sits on dharna.”
He also argued that such actions could encourage further misconduct and demoralize central forces. Mehta expressed concern that state officials might feel encouraged to “barge in, commit theft, and then sit on a dharna,” emphasizing the need to take a firm stand by suspending those officers who were present during the incident.
The ED’s petition to the Supreme Court stems from events on January 8, when its officials encountered obstacles during raids at the Salt Lake office of the political consultancy firm I-PAC and the residence of its head, Pratik Jain, in connection with a coal smuggling investigation.
The agency claims that Chief Minister Banerjee entered the premises and removed key evidence relevant to the investigation.
In response, the chief minister has accused the central agency of overreach, while her party, Trinamool Congress, has rejected the ED’s allegations of interference.
Additionally, the state’s police have filed an FIR against ED officers.
Earlier, The Enforcement Directorate (ED) approached the Supreme Court, alleging that the West Bengal government, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has been obstructing its probe during searches at the I-PAC office and the residence of its director, Pratik Jain, in Kolkata.
This investigation is linked to a money-laundering case involving coal scam. Reports indicate that the ED claims state officials interfered with its operations, disrupting an ongoing investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The agency’s petition seeks the Supreme Court’s involvement to facilitate an uninterrupted investigation into the purported transfer of hawala funds associated with the coal scam to the political consultancy firm I-PAC, which has collaborated with theTrinamool Congress (TMC).
Previously, the West Bengal government filed a caveat in the Apex Court, requesting that no orders be issued without considering its position in the matter. A caveat, as per Section 148A of the Code of Civil Procedure, ensures that the court does not grant any ex parte orders against a party without allowing it an opportunity to respond.
This situation arises after the ED conducted searches at various locations related to I-PAC and Pratik Jain in Kolkata on January 8.
The ED has asserted that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee allegedly intruded during the raid, taking away significant evidence, including documents and electronic devices. Banerjee, however, has firmly rejected these charges and accused the central agency of overstepping its bounds.
Earlier, On January 9, the ED additionally approached the Calcutta High Court seeking a CBI investigation against Banerjee. The agency alleged that the Chief Minister, aided by the state police, disrupted search procedures and removed incriminating materials during the operation at Pratik Jain’s residence.
The ED has requested the High Court to order the immediate seizure, sealing, and forensic preservation of the digital devices and documents purportedly taken from the site. The petition also asks for interim measures to prevent access to, deletion of, or tampering with the seized data.
Moreover, the ED has claimed that local witnesses, known as panch witnesses, were hijacked by state officials and coerced into stating that the search was uneventful and that no incriminating evidence was found.
Additionally, On 14th January, Yesterday, the High Court postponed the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) plea at the request of its counsel, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, who informed the Court that a similar case is currently under consideration by the Supreme Court.
In the meantime, the Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) submitted a petition to the High Court, seeking protection for sensitive and confidential political data that it alleged was confiscated by the ED during the I-PAC raids.
The High Court concluded this TMC plea yesterday after noting the ED’s assurance that no such data had been taken.
Earlier, she led a ten-kilometer protest march from Jadavpur to Hazra Crossing in Kolkata, asserting her innocence, she proclaimed during the rally,
“I intervened as the TMC chairperson, not as chief minister. They came to steal my party data. I will expose everything if needed,”
The proceedings at the Calcutta High Court took an unexpected turn on January 9 when Justice Suvra Ghosh left the courtroom due to overcrowding.
Case Title: Directorate of Enforcement v. State of West Bengal