Kolkata: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the India Political Action Committee (I-PAC) raid case will see a significant hearing on Friday at the Calcutta High Court. A single bench led by Justice Subhra Ghosh is set to hear three petitions related to the raids simultaneously.
On Thursday, the ED conducted raids at I-PAC’s office located in the Salt Lake area of North Kolkata and at the residence of I-PAC co-founder Pratik Jain on Loudon Street in Central Kolkata. The agency alleges that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself obstructed the ED’s search and seizure operations at the sites. The ED has approached the High Court against this alleged interference.
In its petition, the central agency accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of misusing her constitutional position by disrupting the officials’ work during the raids at two locations. Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Pratik Jain have separately filed two petitions in the High Court.
The TMC’s petition claims that since I-PAC functions as the party’s voter strategy agency, the ED’s raid aimed to seize documents related to the party’s electoral strategy for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections and allegedly share them with the BJP.
It is noted that on Thursday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited Pratik Jain’s residence and then the I-PAC office, accompanied by senior state administration and police officials. She reportedly removed some files and electronic documents, placed them in her vehicle, and later addressed the media, levelling severe allegations against the ED and the BJP.
However, before the High Court hearing, the ED issued a statement refuting Mamata Banerjee’s claims. The agency clarified that the raids were connected to an alleged coal smuggling syndicate led by Anup Majhi and had no political links with I-PAC or any political party.
This hearing is expected to be pivotal in the ongoing legal and political tussle surrounding the raids, with both sides presenting their arguments before the Calcutta High Court.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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