ED Moves Supreme Court Seeking CBI Probe Into Alleged Obstruction During I-PAC Searches in Bengal
New Delhi/Kolkata:
The Enforcement Directorate on Sunday approached the Supreme Court of India, requesting that a court-monitored investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation be ordered into what it described as interference by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her administration during the agency’s searches in Kolkata.
Officials indicated that the ED is likely to seek an urgent hearing before the Chief Justice of India on Monday, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the need for swift judicial intervention.
Anticipating the move, the West Bengal government has already filed a caveat in the apex court, requesting that no order be passed without first hearing its side.
A caveat serves as a safeguard against ex parte orders and ensures that all parties are heard before any interim or final directions are issued.
Parallel Proceedings in the High Court
The matter is also being contested before the Calcutta High Court, where both the ED and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) have filed separate petitions.
On Friday, Justice Suvra Ghosh adjourned the hearing to January 14 after proceedings were disrupted by disorder in the courtroom soon after they commenced.
Searches Linked to I-PAC
The controversy stems from searches conducted by the ED on Thursday at 10 locations associated with the political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), which is managing the TMC’s election campaign.
The agency said the searches were part of an investigation into alleged coal-smuggling-related money laundering.
According to the ED, while the searches were in progress, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the residence of I-PAC director Pratik Jain.
The agency alleges that she later exited the apartment carrying a laptop and a green folder. It further claimed that she visited I-PAC’s office and removed several files.
In petitions filed before the High Court, both the ED and the TMC have sought directions for the return of documents taken during the episode.
ED Alleges Obstruction of Statutory Duties
Sources familiar with the matter said the ED’s plea before the Supreme Court largely mirrors its High Court petition.
In that filing, the agency urged the court to issue a writ of mandamus directing the CBI to register FIRs and investigate the entire incident, including the alleged role of the Chief Minister, police officials, and others said to be acting in concert.
The ED has alleged that its officers were unlawfully restrained and prevented from carrying out their statutory duties. It further claimed that digital devices and documents seized during the searches were forcibly taken away from its lawful custody.
Agency Defends Its Action
In a press note issued on Thursday, the ED said the searches were conducted in connection with a money laundering case linked to coal smuggling, based on a CBI FIR registered in 2020.
The investigation, it said, has uncovered a hawala network through which crores of rupees were allegedly routed.
The agency maintained that I-PAC was among the entities allegedly connected to these financial transactions.
It stressed that the searches were evidence-driven, unrelated to electoral considerations, and carried out strictly in accordance with the law.
As the legal battle now shifts to the Supreme Court, the case is expected to test the boundaries between investigative authority, executive conduct, and judicial oversight—drawing national attention to the unfolding confrontation between a central agency and a powerful state government.
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