Kolkata: The Supreme Court on Thursday stepped in to halt all coercive action against Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials linked to the controversial raids conducted earlier this month at the Kolkata office of political consultancy firm I-PAC and the residence of its founder, Pratik Jain. The intervention comes as the federal agency accuses West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and senior state police officers of interfering with its investigation.
A bench led by Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi described the dispute as a matter of grave constitutional importance and issued a formal notice to the West Bengal government, seeking its response to the ED’s petition. The agency has alleged that during the January 8 search operation, the Chief Minister personally arrived at the premises and removed crucial documents and electronic material connected to a money-laundering probe.
While granting interim protection to ED officials, the apex court ordered an immediate stay on all FIRs filed by the West Bengal Police against agency officers in connection with the incident. The bench also directed the state administration to preserve all CCTV footage from the raid locations without any tampering, signalling close judicial monitoring of the case.
Highlighting the wider implications, the court observed that unresolved clashes between state governments and central agencies could seriously undermine the rule of law. The bench noted that allowing such confrontations to continue unchecked may create a situation where constitutional authorities are unable to discharge their duties freely.
The ED has also sought a court-monitored investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), arguing that the alleged involvement of the state executive and police machinery has compromised the integrity of its probe. According to the agency, the events of January 8 have had a chilling effect on officers tasked with enforcing federal laws.
On the other side, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the ED of political overreach, while the Trinamool Congress has dismissed the allegations as motivated and aimed at targeting the party ahead of elections. The state government has maintained that its actions were lawful and has moved to ensure it is heard before any adverse orders are passed.
