ED, I-PAC move Calcutta High Court after controversy over search operations in coal smuggling probe
ED I-PAC case: A legal confrontation unfolded in the Calcutta High Court on Thursday after both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) filed separate pleas over searches conducted at locations linked to I-PAC founder Pratik Jain.
While the central agency accused certain individuals of disrupting its investigation, I-PAC questioned the legality and manner of the searches carried out by the ED.
Officials familiar with the matter said the raids were linked to an ongoing money laundering investigation connected to an alleged coal pilferage racket involving huge financial irregularities.
Justice Suvra Ghosh, before whom the petitions were mentioned, is expected to take up the case for detailed hearing on Friday.
The developments triggered political controversy after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at Jain’s south Kolkata residence and later visited the I-PAC office in Salt Lake while the ED operation was still underway. Mamata Banerjee alleged that the agency was attempting to seize confidential party-related material, including internal strategy documents, hard drives and digital data linked to the Trinamool Congress’s election planning.
I-PAC is closely associated with the TMC’s political campaigns and also oversees the party’s IT and media outreach.
In its submission to the High Court, the ED sought protection to carry out its probe without interference. The agency alleged that key documents and electronic devices were removed during the Chief Minister’s visit to Jain’s residence.
The ED further claimed that Mamata Banerjee, accompanied by aides and police personnel, later reached the I-PAC office, from where materials relevant to the investigation were allegedly taken away.
- With inputs from agencies
