Kolkata, Jan 12: The West Bengal government has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court in connection with the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) raids on political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) and its director, Pratik Jain. The move requests that no court order be passed without allowing the state to be heard.
ED Raids Spark Controversy
The raids, conducted on January 8 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), targeted multiple premises linked to I-PAC and Pratik Jain across Kolkata, Delhi, and other parts of West Bengal. The ED claims the searches are connected to an alleged multi-crore coal pilferage linked money laundering case.
The agency alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee entered one of the raid locations and removed “key” evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices, interfering with an ongoing investigation. Banerjee has denied the allegations, calling the ED’s actions politically motivated and an attempt to seize her party’s internal strategy.
Legal Moves and Court Proceedings
Following the raids, the ED approached the Calcutta High Court seeking a CBI probe into the alleged obstruction during its operations. The agency claimed that approximately Rs 20 crore in hawala funds, allegedly linked to coal pilferage, had been routed to I-PAC, which has been working as a political consultant for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) since 2021.
The ED also alleged that local witnesses present during the raid were coerced into giving statements contrary to the facts. It has requested directions for the immediate seizure, sealing, and forensic preservation of the documents and digital devices allegedly removed.
Mamata Banerjee’s Response
Responding to the ED, Banerjee led a 10-km protest march in Kolkata from Jadavpur to Hazra Crossing on January 9, asserting that she had acted solely as the TMC chairperson and not as Chief Minister. “They came to steal my party data. I will expose everything if needed,” she told supporters.
Supreme Court Caveat Signals Preparedness
While the Supreme Court has yet to hear any petitions in the matter, the filing of the caveat indicates that the West Bengal government is ready to contest any ED action before the apex court.