ED demands immediate suspension of DGP Rajeev Kumar, files fresh plea in SC

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a new plea to the Supreme Court. Ahead of a scheduled hearing, the ED has sought the immediate suspension of West Bengal’s acting Director General of Police (DGP), Rajeev Kumar. The agency alleges that Kumar, along with other top officials, actively interfered and obstructed a lawful search operation conducted at the residence of I-PAC director Pratik Jain in Kolkata on January 8.

The incident stems from a money laundering probe linked to the multi-crore coal pilferage scam, where the ED claims approximately ₹20 crore of "proceeds of crime" were routed to the political consultancy firm I-PAC. According to the federal agency's petition filed under Article 32, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the search site with senior Trinamool Congress leaders and allegedly confronted the officers on duty. The ED has made a sensational claim that the Chief Minister forcibly removed key evidentiary documents and electronic devices from the premises.

A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Vipul M. Pancholi is slated to hear the matter today. The ED has named Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, DGP Rajeev Kumar, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma, and South Kolkata DC Priyabatra Roy as respondents. The agency argued that the presence of the state’s executive head at a raid site created an "intimidating atmosphere" for federal officers, compromising the independence of the statutory investigation.

In its defense, the West Bengal government has already filed a caveat in the apex court to ensure it is heard before any adverse orders are passed. On Wednesday, the Calcutta High Court had disposed of a related plea by the TMC after the ED clarified that it had not officially seized any sensitive political data from the I-PAC office, as the documents were allegedly taken away by the Chief Minister herself. The ED is now pushing for an independent inquiry by the CBI to investigate the alleged administrative interference by the state government.