The West Bengal government has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court requesting that no order be passed without hearing its side in matters related to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) recent raids on political consultancy firm I-PAC and its director Pratik Jain.
A caveat is a legal measure filed to ensure that no ex-parte (one-sided) decision is issued by the court without giving the caveator a chance to be heard.
The caveat comes in the wake of ED’s searches conducted on Thursday at the premises of I-PAC and Jain in Kolkata. The raids were carried out as part of a money laundering investigation linked to the alleged multi-crore coal pilferage scam in West Bengal.
The matter escalated dramatically when the ED claimed that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee entered the raid site during the operation and removed “key” pieces of evidence, including physical records and electronic devices. The agency has alleged that Banerjee, with police support, interfered in the process and took away materials from Jain’s residence that were in the agency’s custody.
In response to these developments, the ED has now approached the Calcutta High Court, seeking a direction for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into Banerjee’s actions. The ED argued that such conduct amounted to obstruction of justice and warranted an independent investigation.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, however, has dismissed the ED’s claims, accusing the central agency of political overreach and targeting opposition voices ahead of the upcoming electoral cycle.
The situation has heightened tensions between the Centre and the West Bengal government, adding a fresh layer of controversy to the long-standing political conflict surrounding the ED’s operations in the state.
The Supreme Court has not yet listed any related matter for hearing, and it remains to be seen if and when any petition challenging the raids or Banerjee’s alleged involvement is formally filed. The caveat ensures that the state government will be heard before any adverse orders are issued.
