ED moves Supreme Court against alleged ‘interference and obstruction’ by Bengal govt during I-PAC raids

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday moved the Supreme Court against alleged interference and obstruction by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her government during its raids at the office of Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) and residence of its director Pratik Jain.

The Central probe agency has moved a plea before the top court, seeking directions for a CBI probe into the matter.

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Meanwhile, the West Bengal government has also filed a caveat in the Supreme Court in this regard. It has urged the court not to pass any order without hearing its side in connection with the ED raids against I-PAC.

Earlier on Thursday, the ED conducted raids at I-PAC office and its head Pratik Jain’s residence in Kolkata in connection with a coal smuggling case.

However, during the raids, Mamata Banerjee reached the spot and allegedly removed some documents. While Mamata claimed that the documents were related to her party, the ED alleged she forcibly removed evidence.

Following the raids, both the ED and I-PAC head Pratik Jain moved the Calcutta High Court separately.

Trinamool Congress MPs protest outside Amit Shah’s office over ED raids, detained briefly

Later, two FIRs were registered against the ED’s raids at Jain’s residence at Loudon Street and I-PAC’s office at Salt Lake.

Kolkata Police visits Jain’s residence to identify ED, CRPF personnel involved in raid

Meanwhile, the Kolkata Police today reached the residence of Pratik Jain to identify ED officials and CRPF team during Thursday’s raids.

The police checked the footage of CCTV cameras installed at Jain’s residence and recorded statements of the family members.

The raids at Jain’s residence and I-PAC office were conducted in connection with a 2020 coal smuggling case.

The ED has claimed that the coal smuggling syndicate of Anup Majee was linked to political consultancy I-PAC via a hawala trail.