NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday said it was “disturbed” about commotion that occurred at Calcutta high court during hearing on disruption at Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on Trinamool-linked political consultancy I-PAC.Aftershocks of the showdown between ED and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee over raids on I-PAC jolted Calcutta high court last week, prompting Justice Suvra Ghosh to postpone hearing petitions on grounds of “enormous disturbance and commotion” in the courtroom.
“We are very much disturbed with incidents in Calcutta HC,” the Supreme Court said during the hearing on Thursday.During the hearing, the ED told the Supreme Court that the West Bengal government’s “interference and obstruction”, including by chief minister Mamata Banerjee, in its probe and search operation at the I-PAC office and its chief’s residence reflects a very shocking pattern.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, told a bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Vipul Pancholi that in the past also, whenever statutory authorities exercised statutory power, Banerjee barged in and interfered.“It reflects a very shocking pattern,” Mehta said while contending that this will only encourage such acts, and the central forces will be demoralised.“This is very serious matter, we intend to issue notice and examine the issue,” said the Supreme Court on ED’s Kolkata raids facing “obstruction”.ED calls obstruction a ‘theft’Mehta also told the Supreme Court of India that there was evidence indicating “incriminating material” was present at the premises searched during the I-PAC raid in Kolkata.He said local police authorities had been duly informed in advance and that senior officials, including the Director General of Police, the chief minister, the commissioner of police, the local deputy commissioner of police (DCP), and a large police force, subsequently reached the spot.Mehta alleged that materials recovered during the search were taken away “unauthorisedly”, terming the act an “offence of theft”.“There was evidence leading to the conclusion that incriminating material was lying in a premise…local police was intimated…DGP, CM and Commissioner of Police and DCP of area, large police force, goes there…took material unauthorizedly. It’s an offense of THEFT. She takes it away. Mobile of ED official also taken away. She even went before media…this will encourage officers to not discharge their duty. Forces will be demoralized. Let example be set. Officers who were present during exercise be placed under suspension and placed under departmental enquiry. Please take cognizance of what’s happening,” Mehta was quoted as submitting to SC as per Live Law.‘ED charges a blatant lie’Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for chief minister Mamata Banerjee, dismissed the ED’s charges as a “blatant lie”. Sibal also opposed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s plea, arguing that the matter should first be heard by the Calcutta high court and that the established judicial hierarchy must be followed. He contended that the ED was pursuing parallel proceedings.Referring to video footage of the raid, Sibal said, “It is a blatant lie that all digital devices were taken. Allegation that CM Mamata Banerjee took all devices is a lie, substantiated by ED’s own panchnama (search record).”“Allegation that CM Mamata Banerjee took all devices is a lie, substantiated by ED’s own panchnama (search record). Last statement in coal scam recorded in February 2024; what was ED doing since then? Why so keen in the midst of elections?” Sibal asked.
