I-PAC Raids: Calcutta HC Disposes of TMC's Petition
Representing the ED, additional solicitor general SV Raju stated before the court that the agency has not seized anything from these two premises
The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday disposed of the Trinamul Congress' petition against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for preservation of its confidential political data which, the ruling party earlier claimed, were seized by the central agency during its raid and search at two premises linked to political consulting firm, I-PAC, in the city last week.
Justice Suvra Ghosh of the HC ordered the disposal of the TMC plea after additional solicitor general SV Raju, representing the (ED), submitted during a hearing before the judge that the central agency could not seize anything from I-PAC office in Salt Lake and the firm's director Prateek Jain's flat at an apartment Loudon Street on January 8.
Mr Raju also argued that it was West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee who had taken away the files and devices. He further prayed for disposal of the matter. Noting ‘no seizure’ mentioned in the Panchnama of the ED, Justice Ghosh later stated in her order, "In view of such submissions, nothing remains to be dealt with and the application is disposed of."
The judge also adjourned the ED’s petition, accusing Ms Banerjee of creating obstruction in its probe, following a request by Mr Raju who pointed out that the central agency has filed a similar petition in the Supreme Court.
The ED and TMC had moved the HC with their petitions accusing each other of being on the wrong foot hours after Ms Banerjee's intervention in the central agency’s raid to probe money laundering in the coal smuggling scam.
Though the matters came up for hearing on January 9, the judge could not hear it due to a commotion and chaos in the courtroom. She later adjourned the hearing and scheduled the next hearing on January 14 before leaving her chair.
