Days after SC notice over I-PAC raids, Bengal CM urges CJI Surya Kant to protect Constitution, democracy, judiciary

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday requested Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant to safeguard the Constitution, democracy and judiciary.

Speaking at a program in Jalpaiguri where CJI Kant was also present, the Bengal CM also urged him to protect the people of the country from being wrongly targeted by “agencies”

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“Please protect the Constitution, democracy, judiciary, history and geography of the country from disaster,” she said without directly mentioning the threat.

The Bengal CM further continued “You (the Chief Justice of India) are the guardian of our Constitution, we are under your legal guardianship. Please protect the people.”

She flagged the recent trend of media trials before disposal of cases. “This must stop, too,” the CM added.

Her remarks came days after the Supreme Court issued notice to her and other officials in connection with the ED raids on political consultancy I-PAC.

The ED had moved the SC, accusing CM Banerjee and others of obstructing its search operations at the Kolkata office I-PAC and the residence of its co-founder, Pratik Jain.

ED moves Calcutta HC alleging ‘illegal interference’ after Mamata reaches I-PAC raid site

Observing that the ED’s petitions raised serious questions, the Court said it was prima facie satisfied that the matter warranted judicial scrutiny.

“We are of the prima facie view that the present petition has raised a serious issue relating to the investigation by the ED or other central agencies and interference by state agencies. According to us, for adherence to the rule of law in the country and to allow each organ to function independently, it is necessary to examine the issue so that offenders are not allowed to be protected under the seal of law-enforcing agencies of a particular state,” the Bench had observed.

During the ED raids earlier this month, the Bengal CM had reached the I-PAC office and Jain’s residence and removed some documents.

While Banerjee claimed that she took away documents of her party containing details of candidates for the upcoming Assembly Elections, the agency alleged that she forcefully took away key evidences.