Tensions between New Delhi and Kolkata reach a boiling point as the Supreme Court gears up for a crucial session on the ED’s allegations of sabotage during an I-PAC raid. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, her DGP, and police commissioner stand accused of derailing a federal investigation into the political firm’s activities.
Scheduled before Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Vipul M. Pancholi, the hearing revives a petition that has gripped national attention. ED wants FIRs lodged for the trio’s role in obstructing searches at I-PAC offices and Prateek Jain’s residence.
The incident unfolded amid ED’s PMLA probe, where state forces allegedly turned the scene hostile. Officers reported physical assaults and procedural blocks, leading to the agency’s top-court dash. In an interim masterstroke, the bench quashed the state’s FIR against ED team, stayed proceedings, and mandated evidence preservation.
Notices flew to Banerjee and officials, with a tight deadline for replies. The court flagged risks of ‘anarchy’ if such interferences persist, ordering CCTV and digital assets sealed.
From ED’s podium, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta lambasted the ‘rule of the mob,’ narrating tales of coercion against enforcers. Countering fiercely, Abhishek Manu Singhvi decried the plea as tactical maneuvering, insisting Calcutta High Court offered ample relief.
As political rhetoric escalates, this case tests the judiciary’s role in shielding central agencies from state pushback. Outcomes may fortify ED’s operational independence or expose vulnerabilities in multi-agency dynamics, with broader implications for governance and accountability.