TMC, I-PAC move Calcutta High Court against ED searches at locations linked to firm

The Trinamool Congress and political consultancy firm I-PAC on Thursday moved the Calcutta High Court, challenging the legality of searches conducted by the Enforcement Directorate at several locations linked to the firm in Kolkata and Bidhannagar earlier in the day, The Times of India reported.

Earlier in the day, the Enforcement Directorate also approached the Calcutta High Court, alleging “illegal interference” during its search operations. The matter is slated to be heard on Friday.

The central agency on Thursday conducted searches at I-PAC’s office in Kolkata’s Salt Lake area, the residence of the firm’s head Pratik Jain and the office of a trader in the city’s Posta neighbourhood in connection with an investigation into alleged money laundering.

Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee 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 seizing party documents ahead of the Assembly polls.

On Friday, Banerjee will lead a protest in Kolkata against the Enforcement Directorate’s searches, ANI reported.

“Is it the duty of [Union] Home Minister Amit Shah and the ED to take away all my party documents?” she asked. “If I go to the Bharatiya Janata Party office, what will be the result?”

I-PAC, founded...

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