ED-Didi faceoff in Supreme Court over I-PAC raid drama: Timing questioned, obstruction denied
ED told the Supreme Court that Mamata Banerjee's actions reflect “a very shocking pattern emerging”.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday told the Supreme Court that West Bengal chief minister has a “shocking pattern” of barging into premises during proceedings by statutory authorities. The Supreme Court was hearing a petition by the ED over the alleged interference by agency's raids in Kolkata last week on I-PAC, firm that does political consultancy for the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
The Supreme Court is hearing a petition filed by the ED, seeking directions to the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and the West Bengal government to suspend key police officers including West Bengal DGP Rajiv Kumar, Manoj Kumar Verma, Kolkata Police Commissioner, and Priyabatra Roy, DCP South Kolkata, for alleged interference in the agency's raids.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and ASG SV Raju, appearing for the ED, said: "It reflects a very shocking pattern emerging. In past also, whenever statutory authorities exercised statutory power, CM barges into premises," reported LiveLaw.
“Director, Commissioner accompanied her. They were accomplices. Officers sat on dharna with political leaders. One officer is personally aggrieved... Joint Director, CBI's house was gheraoed...stones were pelted,” the law portal quoted SG Mehta.
ED vs West Bengal govt in Supreme Court
The Supreme Court, meanwhile, condemned what it described as “commotion” in Calcutta high court last Friday during hearing in the I-PAC raids case.
High drama unfolded in the Calcutta high court on Friday over ED raids, forcing the hearing to end in an adjournment after the judge said that “enormous disturbance” was created in her courtroom.
“Large number of advocates, others entered Calcutta high court while hearing our plea. This happens when mobocracy replaces democracy,” SG Mehta told the top court on Thursday. To this, the Supreme Court replied, “We are very much disturbed with incidents in Calcutta high court,” PTI news agency reported.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the West Bengal government, said Mamata Banerjee did not cause any obstruction and took I-PAC chief Pratik Jain's laptop along with personal iPhone during the ED searches. “Till 12.05, no seizure took place. Laptop of Pratik Jain would have all information about election. She took laptop and personal Iphone. That's all. There was no obstruction. This is signed by ED… IPAC has party material, which is why ED went there. Completely malafide act by ED to gather as much material as they can,” LiveLaw quoted Sibal as saying.
Sibal also questioned the timing of the ED raids, that came just months before West Bengal goes to polls. He said the last statement in the case over which ED claimed to have conducted the raids was recorded in 2024, asking what was the central probe agency doing since then:
“Series of data kept with IPAC. When they went there, they knew lot of data of party will be there. why was the need to go there in the midst of an election? Last statement in coal scam recorded on 24.02.2024. What were they doing since then? Why so keen in midst of elections? If you get hold of the information, how will we fight the elections? Chairman had right to go. Lies will be demonstrated if we show the video. We are also extremely disturbed. Why should ED go to a part of party office which has all information?” Sibal was quoted as saying.
ED I-PAC raids
The Supreme Court Bench hearing the matter comprises Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Vipul Pancholi. The petition has been filed by the Enforcement Directorate under Article 32 of the Constitution.
High drama erupted in West Bengal's Kolkata on Thursday when chief minister Mamata Banerjee “rushed” to the residence of Pratik Jain, the head I-PAC, amid ED raids, during which she claimed officials attempted to “loot” her party TMC hard disks as well as internal documents and sensitive data.
Visuals of Mamata Banerjee's visit to the ED office and I-PAC head's residence showed her surrounded by police personnel and jostling her way out, holding documents, amid a crowd of media persons and several others.
Search operations, which ED said were linked to a money laundering case investigation, were also conducted at the office of the I-PAC, (Indian Political Action Committee), which does political consultancy for West Bengal ruling party TMC and also looks after its IT and media cell.
