Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 12: The Enforcement Directorate has once again approached the Supreme Court, alleging that supporters of the Trinamool Congress attempted to derail legal proceedings linked to the agency’s raids on political consultancy firm I-PAC in Kolkata last week.

The fresh plea comes after the Calcutta High Court deferred hearing the matter to January 14 following chaotic scenes and severe overcrowding in the courtroom, which reportedly forced the presiding judge to leave the court premises. The ED has claimed that the disruption was deliberate and aimed at obstructing the judicial process.

Earlier, on January 9, the central agency had moved the Supreme Court accusing the West Bengal government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of obstructing its investigation into the alleged coal smuggling case involving I-PAC. In that petition, the ED sought a CBI probe into the incident, asserting that its right to conduct a fair and independent investigation had been curtailed by the state machinery.

In its latest submission, the ED has detailed what it described as a “showdown” during search operations conducted at premises linked to I-PAC, which has been associated with devising election strategies for the Trinamool Congress. The agency alleged that its officials were prevented from lawfully carrying out searches and seizing material relevant to the coal scam probe.

According to the ED, physical documents and electronic devices were forcibly removed from the searched premises in the presence of senior state officials. The agency contended that interference by state authorities, including police personnel, amounted to obstruction of justice and compromised the integrity of its investigation.

In a separate but related plea, three ED officers who were part of the search operations have moved the Supreme Court, alleging that the West Bengal government obstructed them in the discharge of their official duties. The plea, filed against the state government, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the state’s Director General of Police, seeks the withdrawal of FIRs registered by the police against the officers.

Anticipating further legal action by the ED, the West Bengal government has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court. A caveat is a formal request asking the court not to pass any order without first hearing the concerned party. The move is aimed at ensuring that the state’s version is placed before the apex court before any interim relief is granted to the central agency.

The dispute stems from ED raids conducted in Kolkata at locations linked to I-PAC as part of its probe into an alleged multi-crore coal smuggling scam. The agency has claimed that proceeds of crime amounting to nearly Rs 10 crore were routed to I-PAC through hawala channels and that the consultancy firm was paid by the Trinamool Congress for services rendered during the 2022 Goa Assembly elections.

The matter is expected to come up for further consideration in the Supreme Court in the coming days, even as political tensions between the Centre and the West Bengal government continue to escalate.