The Supreme Court (SC) of India on Tuesday adjourned to March 18 the hearing on a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleging obstruction by the West Bengal government, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during search operations at the I-PAC office and the residence of its director in connection with an alleged coal pilferage scam, news agency PTI reported.
A bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and KV Viswanathan deferred the proceedings after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that a rejoinder would be submitted later in the day.
On January 15, the top court observed that the West Bengal Chief Minister’s alleged “obstruction” of the ED’s probe was “very serious” and agreed to examine whether a state’s law enforcement agencies can interfere with a Central agency’s investigation into a serious offence. The court also stayed FIRs registered against ED officials who had raided the political consultancy I-PAC on January 8.
While staying the FIRs filed in West Bengal against ED officials, the apex court directed the state police to preserve the CCTV footage of the raids, reported PTI.
The court had issued notices to Banerjee, the West Bengal government, Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, and other senior police officers on the ED’s petitions seeking a CBI probe against them for allegedly obstructing the raids at the I-PAC premises.
West Bengal CM accused of taking away crucial evidence from premises
The ED has alleged that Banerjee entered the raid sites and removed “key” evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices, from the I-PAC premises, thereby obstructing and interfering with the investigation.
The agency further claimed in its plea that the chief minister’s presence at the search site and the alleged removal of documents had an intimidating effect on officers and seriously compromised the federal probe agency’s ability to discharge its statutory functions independently, reported PTI.
The ED’s plea in the apex court follows events of January 8, when the agency conducted searches at the premises of I-PAC and its director, Pratik Jain, in Kolkata as part of a money-laundering probe into the alleged multi-crore coal pilferage scam.
During the search operation, Banerjee reached the I-PAC office along with senior TMC leaders, confronted ED officials, and allegedly took away documents from the premises. The chief minister has accused the central agency of overreach.
According to PTI, the West Bengal Police has also registered an FIR against ED officers.
TMC denies obstruction charges, questions ED’s intent
The TMC has denied the ED’s allegations of obstruction. It has further been alleged that the ED’s action against I-PAC, the party’s election consultant, was aimed at accessing confidential election strategy material.
The party has maintained that I-PAC functions as its election strategist and that the ED’s action was intended to disrupt its electoral preparations rather than pursue a bona fide investigation. Assembly elections in West Bengal are due in a few months.
(With PTI inputs)