ED Urges Calcutta HC To Order FIR, CBI Probe On Didi, Cops

Kolkata: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday demanded an FIR and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)-probe at the Calcutta High Court against West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her government’s top police officers for obstructing its raids at two premises linked to I-PAC, the political consulting firm of the ruling Trinamul Congress, to probe the private entity's role in money laundering in the coal smuggling scam.

In its petition filed before Justice Suvra Ghosh of the HC, the ED stated that when Ms Banerjee reached I-PAC head Pratik Jain’s flat at a housing apartment on Loudon Street in South Kolkata on Thursday, a "categorical request” was made to her by its officials “for not interfering with the ongoing search proceedings under PMLA."

It pointed out that the TMC supremo however violated “all law and order” and “with the aid of police personnel, forcibly took possession of all digital devices along with key incriminating documents from the possession of the authorised officer and left the premises at about 12:15 PM." The central agency also sought the return of the important evidence including the electronic ones which were taken away by Ms Banerjee from both the locations.

On the other hand, the TMC in its petition accused the central agency of looting its Assembly Election candidates’ list and plans from the two locations and asked for a return of the documents. Incidentally, Ms Banerjee has made herself a complainant in two among the three FIRs lodged against the ED and central forces. These two FIRs have been registered one each at Electronic Complex police station in Salt Lake and Shakespeare Sarani police station.

The hearing however turned so chaotic that Justice Ghosh could not listen to the arguments and repeatedly ordered decongestion in her courtroom. When her efforts went in vain, she left the courtroom in disgust after adjourning the hearing and scheduling the matter for hearing on January 14. The judge noted in her order that a large number of advocates and other individuals had entered her courtroom and created “enormous disturbance and commotion” when the matter was taken up for hearing.

She stated, “The environment in the court room is not conducive to commence/continue with the hearing. In view of such situation, this Court is constrained to adjourn the matter.” The ED later moved to the Chief Justice of the HC, appealing for relocation of the case to another judge from Justice Ghosh for an urgent hearing. Its prayer was rejected however.