Terrorised or weaponised - ED-Mamata matter postponed to 18 March as ED likely to file rejoinder today

The Enforcement Directorate told the Supreme Court of India on Wednesday that it had been “terrorized” in West Bengal, as the court adjourned till March 18 a petition alleging interference by the state government during raids in Kolkata. The agency has accused the West Bengal government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of obstructing searches conducted at the premises of political consultancy firm I-PAC and at the residence of its co-founder, Prateek Jain.

During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General S. V. Raju, appearing for the ED, rejected allegations that the agency had misused its authority. Responding to arguments by senior advocate Siddharth Luthra that the ED must justify the alleged “weaponization” of its powers, Raju said, “The ED has not been weaponized; it has been terrorized.” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also addressed the court on behalf of the Centre.

The matter, originally listed for February 3, was adjourned after the ED sought time to examine the affidavit filed by the state government and to file a counter-affidavit. The court had then posted the case for February 10, but the hearing did not proceed due to the illness of senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who was representing the state.

When the case came up again on Wednesday, the Solicitor General informed the bench headed by Justice Mishra that a counter-reply to the state’s affidavit had been prepared and would be filed shortly. Taking note of the submission, the bench adjourned the matter for nearly a month, fixing March 18 as the next date of hearing.