ED moves SC for CBI probe into Mamata’s ‘interference’ during raids on I-PAC office

The West Bengal government, on its part, has already filed a caveat before the top court, seeking that no order be passed in the matter without hearing it. A caveat is a precautionary measure in anticipation of a case, and ensures that no ex-parte order is passed.

Both the ED and the Trinamool Congress have already filed petitions in the Calcutta High Court. On Friday, Justice Suvra Ghosh of the Calcutta High Court adjourned hearing on the petitions to January 14 after chaos erupted in the courtroom as soon as proceedings began.

On Thursday, the ED conducted searches at 10 locations linked to I-PAC, which is managing the TMC’s poll campaign. The searches were held in connection with an alleged coal smuggling and money laundering case, the ED said.

While the searches were underway, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the residence of I-PAC director Pratik Jain, and later came out of his apartment with a laptop and a green folder. She also went to I-PAC’s office and brought out several files.

In their petitions, both the ED and the TMC sought the High Court’s directions for returning all documents.

Sources said the ED’s plea in the apex court is likely to mirror its petition filed before the High Court.

The ED had urged the HC to “issue a writ of mandamus directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register FIR(s) and investigate the entire incident, including the role of the present respondents being the Hon’ble Chief Minister, police officials, and all persons acting in concert”.

The agency alleged that its officers were wrongfully restrained and prevented from discharging statutory duties, and that digital devices and documents seized during the search were forcibly removed from lawful custody.

In a press note issued on Thursday, the ED said the searches were conducted in connection with a coal smuggling-linked money laundering probe registered on the basis of a 2020 CBI FIR, and the investigation had uncovered a hawalanetwork through which crores of rupees were routed. The agency said I-PAC was among the entities allegedly linked to these transactions, and maintained that the action was evidence-based, not linked to elections, and carried out strictly in accordance with law.