The West Bengal government lodged a caveat in the Supreme Court concerning the Enforcement Directorate’s actions at the Indian Political Action Committee’s (I-PAC) office and its director’s residence, Pratik Jain. This move aims to ensure the state’s arguments are heard before any orders are issued. The ED has a case in the Calcutta High Court related to the I-PAC matter, with a hearing scheduled for January 14.
The state government’s caveat in the Supreme Court is to prevent unilateral hearings of the ED’s arguments. By filing this caveat, both sides’ arguments will be considered before any ex parte orders are made. The Supreme Court typically issues orders after hearing only one side, but a caveat ensures a fair hearing for both parties.
Recently, the ED conducted searches at I-PAC’s office and Pratik Jain’s residence in Kolkata in connection with a coal smuggling case. This investigation, under the PMLA, involves financial transactions amounting to around Rs 2,742 crore. Allegations suggest that some funds were used for I-PAC’s activities through hawala transactions, particularly in Goa.
The ED accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of obstructing the investigation by allegedly removing crucial documents during an authorized search. The agency claimed that police seized digital devices and documents during the search, halting the forensic work. The ED further stated that despite initiating the search at the I-PAC office, they were impeded by state police from continuing their investigation.
In response to these events, the ED sought a CBI investigation against the Chief Minister in the Calcutta High Court. The state government countered with its own case, leading to both cases being adjourned until January 14. The ED’s attempts to expedite the hearing in the High Court were unsuccessful, prompting them to file a petition in the Supreme Court. Subsequently, the state government filed a caveat in the apex court on Saturday.
