I-PAC raid case: Bengal files caveat in SC, seeks hearing before any order on its stand

KOLKATA: A day after the Calcutta High Court on Friday rejected the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) plea for an urgent hearing over its recent raids in Kolkata and alleged “obstruction” by the Bengal Chief Minister, the central agency approached the Supreme Court on Saturday. Earlier in the day, the Bengal government filed a caveat with the apex court, urging that no order be passed without hearing the state’s version. In its petition, the ED alleged that its investigation into a coal scam case and raids at the offices of political consultancy firm I-PAC and the residence of its co-founder Pratik Jain were obstructed by the Chief Minister. The petition and counter-petition before the apex court come amid escalating legal and political tensions between the central agency and the ruling Trinamool Congress. The ED has also sought a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the incident, claiming that its right to conduct a fair and independent investigation was curtailed by the state machinery.

In its plea, the ED detailed what it described as a showdown during search operations at premises linked to I-PAC, alleging that physical documents and electronic devices were forcibly removed in the presence of senior state officials and that police interference amounted to obstruction of justice. The agency claimed proceeds of crime worth nearly Rs 10 crore were routed to I-PAC through hawala channels and had moved the Calcutta High Court seeking registration of an FIR against Mamata Banerjee, though hearings were deferred till January 14. Trinamool Congress filed counter-petitions contesting the ED’s claims, while the family of Pratik Jain alleged theft of documents during the raids, a charge denied by the agency. Trinamool maintained that the seized documents were related only to election strategy and fell outside the ambit of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, and alleged that Jain was being targeted due to his current role with the party, while former I-PAC chief Prashant Kishor was spared. Meanwhile, Kolkata Police have begun identifying ED officials accused of stealing documents after FIRs were lodged following Trinamool’s allegations of election-related data theft.