According to a report in The Times of India, the Enforcement Directorate has petitioned the Supreme Court to rule against the West Bengal government in the I-PAC raid case.
In their submission, the central agency allegedly claimed that the Mamata Banerjee led state government obstructed its search operations at the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) headquarters in Kolkata and at the home of its director, Pratik Jain. In addition, the state administration filed a caveat earlier today requesting to be heard before any unfavourable order is issued.
As part of a money laundering investigation connected to a purported multi crore rupee coal theft scheme, the ED conducted searches on Thursday.
Chief Minister Banerjee personally entered the premises during the raid, according to the ED, and confiscated documents and electronic devices that the agency described as critical evidence. Banerjee has refuted the accusation, claiming that the central agency has overreached.
The ED also filed a motion with the Calcutta High Court on Friday, alleging that the state police obstructed its officials during the January 8 operation at the chief minister's request.
The agency said in its petition that the police disregarded their legal obligations and hindered ED officials from using their authority under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
However, citing crowding-related problems in the courtroom, the High Court postponed the hearing in the case involving the ED and the Trinamool Congress to January 14, 2026.
According to the ED's comprehensive appeal, things became worse when the chief minister showed up to Pratik Jain's house during the raid and took out what it called "incriminating" items.
The agency claimed that it had petitioned the court to uphold the rule of law and to stop what it saw as police and state government meddling.
A political tempest was set off by the occurrences. After Banerjee claimed that the company was approved by the Trinamool Congress, the BJP's West Bengal unit questioned I-PAC's involvement in the state's governance.
The party questioned why government records were discovered at I-PAC's office and whether the consulting was affecting how the state government operated in a post on X.
The BJP requested an explanation from the chief minister and claimed that bureaucrats were essentially following orders from a private agency, citing this as a constitutional issue.
While demonstrating against the ED's operations outside Union Home Minister Amit Shah's office on Friday, a number of Trinamool Congress MPs were arrested in New Delhi.
Banerjee denounced the detentions as "shameful and unacceptable," accusing the BJP of treating opposition and ruling party leaders' protests differently.
