ED moves SC after Calcutta High Court defers hearing in I-PAC case; Bengal Govt files caveat

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday filed an Article 32 petition in the Supreme Court, alleging obstruction by the West Bengal government in its investigation into the I-PAC coal scam. The federal agency claimed its "right to conduct a fair and independent investigation has been curtailed by the state machinery" and sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter.

The ED detailed a sequence of events during its search operations at I-PAC-linked premises, asserting that officials were prevented from lawfully seizing material relevant to the coal smuggling investigation. The agency alleged that physical documents and electronic devices were forcibly removed in the presence of senior state officials, compromising the integrity of the probe.

Earlier, the West Bengal government filed a caveat in the Supreme Court, seeking to ensure its version is heard before any interim relief is granted to the ED. The legal dispute escalated after the Calcutta High Court deferred hearing on the ED’s petition for registering an FIR against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly obstructing the searches.

The Trinamool Congress and I-PAC contested the ED’s claims, stating that the seized documents pertained solely to election planning and campaign strategy, which fall outside the scope of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The ED rejected these allegations, asserting its actions were lawful and conducted in accordance with due process, and urged the Supreme Court to safeguard central agencies from institutional resistance.