New Delhi: The West Bengal government has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court, requesting that no order be passed in the case of the ED raids on the political consultancy firm I-PAC without hearing its side.
A caveat is filed in the High Court and Supreme Court to ensure that no adverse order is passed against the party without giving them a hearing.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the premises of I-PAC and its director Pratik Jain in Kolkata on Thursday. The raids were conducted as part of a money laundering investigation into an alleged multi-crore rupee coal theft scam.
According to the agency, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee entered the raided premises and took away crucial evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices.
Banerjee, however, has accused the central agency of exceeding its authority. On Friday, the ED approached the Calcutta High Court, seeking a CBI investigation against Banerjee. The ED alleges that she, with the help of the police, snatched incriminating documents from the agency’s custody during the raid at Jain’s residence.
What is the I-PAC controversy?
Following the ED raids on the political consultancy firm I-PAC and its director Pratik Jain, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to the streets, calling the raids an attack on her party’s election strategy. She led a nearly 10-kilometer-long rally in Kolkata on Friday. This is being seen as a show of strength by the TMC ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
Home Ministry Seeks Report from ED
The Union Home Ministry has sought a report from the ED regarding the events that transpired in West Bengal on January 8. These events are related to the raids and search operations conducted at the ED’s Kolkata office and the residence of I-PAC co-founder Pratik Jain.
