SC issues notice to Mamata Banerjee over EDs plea alleging obstructing raid

PTC News Desk: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a notice to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee state’s DGP Rajeev Kumar and others on the Enforcement Directorate's petition seeking a CBI probe against them for allegedly obstructing agency's raid. 

A bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi on Wednesday issued notices to the West Bengal government on a petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and several senior state police officers for allegedly obstructing the agency’s search at the office of I-PAC, the political consultancy firm working with the Trinamool Congress.

Calling it a “very serious issue”, the bench said the allegations required detailed judicial scrutiny. The Court also sought the state’s response to the ED’s plea seeking a CBI investigation into the events of January 8, when the agency conducted searches at the I-PAC office.

As interim relief, the Supreme Court stayed all FIRs filed by the West Bengal Police against ED officials in connection with the incident until the next hearing on February 3. It further directed the state government to ensure that all CCTV footage from January 8 is preserved intact, without any tampering. The state has been given three days to file its counter-affidavit.

The Supreme Court also expressed concern over the chaos inside the Calcutta High Court that forced the court to adjourn hearings related to the ED raids until January 14. The disruptions reportedly occurred during proceedings linked to the agency’s search-and-seizure actions at the premises associated with I-PAC.

Notices have been issued to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the West Bengal government, DGP Rajeev Kumar, and other senior police officials on the ED’s plea, which accuses them of interfering during searches at both the I-PAC office and the residence of its head, Pratik Jain.