The Calcutta High Court refused to grant an urgent hearing in the case related to political consultancy firm I-PAC on Friday, after the matter was adjourned till 14 July by Justice Shubhra Ghosh.
After the matter was adjourned by Justice Ghosh, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) approached the office of the Acting Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Justice Sujoy Pal, seeking an expedited hearing of the case.
However, the Acting Chief Justice declined to intervene and did not allow the plea for an urgent hearing.
Sources said the ED first orally mentioned the issue before the Acting Chief Justice’s office, requesting that if the case could not be heard by Justice Ghosh, it should be transferred to another judge for an early hearing.
The ED was asked to submit the request in writing, following which a decision would be taken.
Acting on this, the central agency submitted a written plea seeking the constitution of a special bench for an urgent hearing. The request, however, was rejected.
Lawyers close to the development opined that since a judicial order adjourning the case had already been passed, the Acting Chief Justice chose not to interfere in the matter.
As a result, the hearing will take place on 14 July as scheduled.
The ED had earlier moved the High Court, alleging that its investigation at the I-PAC office was obstructed.
The matter was scheduled to be heard on Friday afternoon before Justice Ghosh. Although the judge took her seat in court, the hearing could not begin due to excessive crowding inside the courtroom.
Unable to conduct proceedings, Justice Ghosh left the courtroom without hearing the matter and adjourned the case till 14 July, a decision that left the ED dissatisfied.