The Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed the Supreme Court that the West Bengal government, particularly Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, obstructed its
investigation at the I-PAC office and the residence of its chief, Pratik Jain. The ED alleged that the TMC government's "interference and obstruction" reflects a very shocking pattern. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, told a bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Vipul Pancholi that in the past also, whenever statutory authorities exercised statutory power, Banerjee barged in and interfered. "It reflects a very shocking pattern," Mehta said while contending that this will only encourage such acts, and the central forces will be demoralised, PTI reported. "The states will feel they can barge in, commit theft, and then sit on a dharna. Let an example be set; officers who were explicitly present there should be suspended," the solicitor general said. The ED's plea in the apex court follows events from January 8, when ED's officials faced obstructions during the probe agency's raids at the office of political consultancy firm I-PAC in Salt Lake and the residence of its chief, Pratik Jain, in Kolkata in connection with a coal smuggling case.
I-PAC raids row
The probe agency has claimed that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee entered the premises and took away "key" evidence related to the probe. The chief minister has accused the central agency of overreach, while her party, Trinamool Congress, has denied the ED's allegation of "obstructing" its probe. The state's police have registered an FIR against ED officers.
In the Calcutta High Court, ED reiterated that the powers to conduct raids and searches are covered under section 17 of the PMLA. "ED powers are being heard in the Supreme Court," ASG Raju said.
The Enforcement Directorate has filed two petitions in the Supreme Court. While one plea has been filed by the ED, the other has been filed by officials of the probe agency.
On January 8, ED had conducted raids at 10 locations in an alleged money laundering case revolving around the coal smuggling case.
The probe agency's raids at two premises linked to IPAC caused a political firestorm when West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee reached the spot. While Mamata Banerjee accused ED of stealing confidential data, ED has claimed that she has disrupted their raids.
(With agency inputs)
