The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday told the Supreme Court that West Bengal chief minister has a shocking pattern of barging into premises during proceedings by statutory authorities. The Supreme Court was hearing a petition by the ED over the alleged interference by agency’s raids in Kolkata last week on I-PAC, firm that does political consultancy for the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
The Supreme Court, meanwhile, condemned what it described as “commotion” in Calcutta high court last Friday during hearing in the I-PAC raids case.
High drama unfolded in the Calcutta high court on Friday over ED raids, forcing the hearing to end in an adjournment after the judge said that “enormous disturbance” was created in her courtroom.
“Large number of advocates, others entered Calcutta high court while hearing our plea. This happens when mobocracy replaces democracy,” SG Mehta told the top court on Thursday. To this, the Supreme Court replied, “We are very much disturbed with incidents in Calcutta high court,” PTI news agency reported.
ED I-PAC raids
The Supreme Court is hearing a petition filed by the ED, seeking directions to the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and the West Bengal government to suspend key police officers including West Bengal DGP Rajiv Kumar, Manoj Kumar Verma, Kolkata Police Commissioner, and Priyabatra Roy, DCP South Kolkata, for alleged interference in the agency’s raids.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and ASG SV Raju, appearing for the ED, said: “It reflects a very shocking pattern emerging. In past also, whenever statutory authorities exercised statutory power, CM barges into premises,” reported LiveLaw.
“Director, Commissioner accompanied her. They were accomplices. Officers sat on dharna with political leaders. One officer is personally aggrieved… Joint Director, CBI’s house was gheraoed…stones were pelted,” the law portal quoted SG Mehta.
The Supreme Court Bench hearing the matter comprises Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Vipul Pancholi. The petition has been filed by the Enforcement Directorate under Article 32 of the Constitution.
High drama erupted in West Bengal’s Kolkata on Thursday when chief minister Mamata Banerjee “rushed” to the residence of Pratik Jain, the head I-PAC, amid ED raids, during which she claimed officials attempted to “loot” her party TMC hard disks as well as internal documents and sensitive data.
Visuals of Mamata Banerjee’s visit to the ED office and I-PAC head’s residence showed her surrounded by police personnel and jostling her way out, holding documents, amid a crowd of media persons and several others.