New Delhi: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has approached the Supreme Court, alleging interference and obstruction by the West Bengal government and chief minister Mamata Banerjee, in its probe and search operation at the I-PAC office and premises of its director Pratik Jain in connection with the coal pilferage scam.
The West Bengal government has already filed a caveat in the top court seeking that no order be passed without hearing it in the matter.
In its petition, the ED has alleged that the West Bengal chief minister entered the raid sites and took away “key” evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices from the premises of I-PAC and obstructed and interfered with the investigation in the matter, as reported by The Tribune.
The chief minister’s presence at the search site and the alleged removal of documents had an intimidating effect on officers and seriously compromised the agency’s ability to discharge its statutory functions independently, the agency has stated in its plea.
The ED has alleged repeated obstruction and non-cooperation by the West Bengal state administration and sought directions for an independent inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). A neutral central agency probe is necessary in view of the alleged interference by the state executive, it has been stated.
The ED’s plea is likely to be mentioned for an urgent hearing on Monday, sources have told the newspaper.
The ED had moved the Calcutta High Court on January 9, seeking a CBI probe against Banerjee, alleging that she, with the aid of the police, took away incriminating documents from the agency’s custody during the raid at Jain’s home.
The High Court adjourned the matter though due to commotion in the courtroom and listed the ED’s plea for hearing on January 14.
The agency is clearly not ready to wait till then.
On January 8, the ED conducted search and seizure operations on the premises of I-PAC and its director as part of a money laundering probe into an alleged multi-crore rupee coal pilferage scam.
Mamata turned up after the raids began, confronted ED officials and allegedly took away documents from the premises. She later accused the ED of being used by the BJP to take away election related documents of the Trinamool Congress from Jain’s home and the I-PAC office.
I-PAC works for the Trinamool Congress and assists the party in election-related matters.
The West Bengal police has also registered an FIR against unnamed ED officers.
