The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday accused the Trinamool Congress of orchestrating chaos during the January 9 hearing of the I-PAC case in the Calcutta High Court.
The ED cited WhatsApp chats, purportedly
circulated by the TMC legal wing, saying the messages pointed to alleged attempts to influence court proceedings. It alleged that this group had called for people to assemble in court, creating chaos.
According to the central probe agency, which presented the WhatsApp chats during the hearing in connection with the I-PAC raids before the Supreme Court, commotion inside the high court on January 9 — a day after the raids at the I-PAC office and residence of the firm’s director Pratik Jain — led the judge to storm out barely five minutes into the proceedings.
“Today 09.01.2026, court no 5, item no 10. Come everyone,” (sic) read a message from the purported group chat, which was accessed by News18.
Another message, purportedly circulated soon after, called for lawyers to join Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s rally against the ED raids.
“Gathering today at 1:00 PM at B Gate. Come everyone. Will go to the procession of Hon’ble CM Mamata Banerjee. Bus and vehicle are arranged. Amit Kumar Das Convener, High Court,” (sic) it read.
During the hearing on January 9, lawyers caused a ruckus in the courtroom even before the hearing began. Despite repeated warnings from Justice Suvra Ghosh, order could not be restored prompting her to ask those not associated with the case to leave. Angered by the lawyers’ conduct, she left the courtroom and adjourned the matter till January 14.
On Wednesday (January 14), hearing both petitions filed by the ED and the TMC, Justice Ghosh stayed plea by the agency on account of it being listed before the Supreme Court, while disposing of the ruling party’s plea regarding protection of political data noting the agency’s argument that nothing was seized during the searches at Jain’s office and residence.
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE SUPREME COURT HEARING?
The Supreme Court stayed the FIRs registered by the West Bengal police against ED officers in connection with the I-PAC raids in Kolkata, observing that the matter raised serious and far-reaching questions about alleged interference with investigations by central agencies.
On January 8, high political drama had unfolded in West Bengal after Mamata Banerjee reached the offices of political consultancy firm I-PAC even as the ED was conducting search operations in connection with the coal smuggling case.
The ED had accused Banerjee of entering the residential premises of Prateek Jain during the ongoing search operation and taking away “key evidence”, including physical documents and electronic devices. It has approached the SC after the West Bengal police had registered FIRs against ED officers following the raids.
The court directed that the CCTV footage of the searched premises be preserved, issued notice to the respondents, and sought counter affidavits. The FIR stay will continue till the next hearing on February 3.
A bench of Justice Prashant Mishra and Justice Vipul Pancholi said larger issues had arisen which, if left unanswered, could lead to lawlessness across states governed by different political parties. While noting that central agencies cannot interfere with a political party’s election work, the apex court questioned whether bona fide investigations into serious offences could be obstructed by taking the shield of political activity.
(With agency inputs)
