The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned to February 18 the hearing on a plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which alleges obstruction by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and state authorities during a search at the I-PAC office in connection with the coal pilferage case. The adjournment was granted after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing one of the respondents, reported illness. The ED has sought a CBI probe into the alleged interference by state actors.
The case arises from a money-laundering investigation linked to the alleged multi-crore coal pilferage scam. On January 8, 2026, the ED conducted search operations at the Kolkata premises of political consultancy firm I-PAC and its director, Pratik Jain. During the operation, CM Mamata Banerjee visited the site accompanied by senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders. The ED alleges that she removed crucial documents and electronic devices, thereby impeding the investigation.
Following these events, the West Bengal Police registered an FIR against ED officials. In response, the ED moved the Supreme Court, seeking a stay on the FIRs and protection of the CCTV footage from the raid.
A bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Sandeep Mehta was informed on Tuesday that senior counsel Kapil Sibal, appearing in the matter, was unwell. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta did not oppose the request for adjournment, and the matter was deferred to February 18.
On January 15, the Supreme Court had stayed all FIRs registered in West Bengal against ED officials and observed that the allegations of obstruction by the chief minister were “very serious.” The Court issued notices to the state government, CM Mamata Banerjee, DGP Rajeev Kumar, and other senior police officers on ED’s petition. It also directed the state police to preserve all CCTV footage related to the raids.
The ED’s plea accuses the West Bengal Chief Minister of:
- Personally entering the raid site and confronting ED officials
- Removing physical documents and digital devices
- Intimidating officers involved in the probe
- Obstructing a federal agency from carrying out its statutory functions
The agency has sought a CBI investigation into these acts of alleged obstruction.
The Trinamool Congress has rejected all allegations of obstruction. It asserts that I-PAC functions as its official election strategist and claims that the ED’s actions were aimed at compromising confidential campaign material ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
According to TMC, the ED’s raid was politically motivated and intended to derail the party’s electoral preparations rather than pursue legitimate investigation into the coal scam.
The Supreme Court will now hear the matter on February 18, when it is expected to consider the legality of state interference in central agency operations, and the ED’s request for a CBI inquiry into the role of top West Bengal officials.
