I-PAC row: ED says it is being ‘terrorised’ as West Bengal claims central agency ‘weaponised’

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that it was being “terrorised”, after the West Bengal government argued that the central agency had been “weaponised”, Live Law reported.

The remarks were made when a bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and KV Viswanathan was hearing a petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and several West Bengal Police officers for allegedly obstructing its searches at the premises of political consultancy I-PAC on January 8.

The central agency had conducted searches at the political consultancy’s office in Kolkata’s Salt Lake area, the home of its head Pratik Jain and the office of a trader in the city’s Posta neighbourhood as part of an investigation into alleged money laundering.

The Indian Political Action Committee has managed the Trinamool Congress’ election campaigns, including in the 2021 Assembly elections.

Banerjee had arrived at Jain’s home around noon while the search was underway and stayed for about 20 to 25 minutes. She then came out with a green file and claimed that the central agency’s officials were “taking away” party documents ahead of the Assembly elections.

The state is expected to head for elections in March or April.

After the raids, the Trinamool Congress and I-PAC moved the Calcutta High Court challenging the legality of the searches....

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