Mamata Banerjee: The Supreme Court (SC) of India has issued a notice to Mamata Banerjee, the sitting Chief Minister of West Bengal, and the Deputy General of Police (DGP), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and Commissioner of Police on a complaint by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The Court also stayed the FIR filed against ED officials by the West Bengal Police who had entered the premises of I-PAC, the agency that regulates the political activities and records of Trinamool Congress (TMC). The bench noted that the ED officials were acting in good faith as they were armed with an authorization letter. The Court asked the respondents to preserve CCTV cameras and other storage devices that contained the footage of the raided premises on January 8.
The bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Vipul Pancholi would now hear the matter on February 2. The bench was hearing the matter in the context of a petition filed by the ED under Constitution’s Article 32.
Mamata Banerjee-ED Tussle: The Turn Of Events
ED raided office of I-PAC, which is the election consultant of the All India Trinamool Congress last week in connection with the coal scam money laundering investigation. During the ED operation, Mamata Banerjee allegedly entered the premises along with police officials and senior party leaders. She confronted officials from the ED and took away some files in a “green cover.”
It was claimed by the ED that the presence of the sitting CM of West Bengal and the alleged removal of possible evidence compromised the ability of the agency while having an intimidating effect on ED officers, hurting ED’s ability to legally discharge its independent statutory functions. The ED went on to claim that Mamata Banerjee is a habitual offender when it comes to obstructing investigations by central government agencies.
West Bengal CM’s Argument
Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee claimed that the raid of ED was political in nature. She also said that the raid was nothing but a mere attempt by ED on the directions of the ruling NDA in Centre to access confidential political information of TMC.
Many in the political circles believe that pictures of sitting CM forcibly taking away possible evidence may hurt the TMC in the upcoming state elections.
