ED vs TMC: Calcutta HC Disposes of I-PAC Raid Petition
ED vs TMC: Calcutta HC Disposes of I-PAC Raid Petition
ED vs TMC clash deepens as Calcutta High Court disposes of the I-PAC raid petition after the ED says nothing was seized; Supreme Court hearings loom.
The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday disposed of the Trinamool Congress petition alleging that the Enforcement Directorate seized sensitive data during the January 8 raid at Pratik Jain's residence and the I-PAC office after the ED told the court that nothing was seized. The ED produced seizure lists showing no material was removed from Jain's premises, prompting the judge to dispose of the TMC's petition as the twin ED and TMC petitions continue to wend their way through higher courts.
Inside the hearing, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju argued that I-PAC's petition was not maintainable because it was filed by Suvashis Chakraborty, who was not present during the raid and did not cite first-hand information. TMC's lawyer, Menaka Guruswamy, countered that I-PAC was authorized by the party to function as its election strategist and that Chakraborty had authority to file. The court livestream allowed only lawyers, consistent with past practice, and Justice Suvra Ghosh adjourned the January 9 proceedings after a ruckus in the courtroom. The judge noted the ED's seizure lists and took cognizance of the dispute, even as the matter remains before the Supreme Court.
Beyond the Calcutta bench, the ED is pressing for an adjournment on a separate plea and the Trinamool Congress is seeking protection of its data. The CM's legal team objected to the request, arguing for due process and data safeguards. Reports from other outlets indicate the High Court has restricted courtroom entry in related proceedings to manage livestream access amid the political firestorm surrounding the raids.
Looking ahead, the Supreme Court is set to hear the ED's plea against what it calls interference by Mamata Banerjee in the raids. In a related filing the ED has named the State of West Bengal, Banerjee, the State's DGP, the Kolkata Police Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner of Police South Kolkata, and the CBI in connection with alleged obstruction of I-PAC raids.
