The Supreme Court has issued notice to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the state government, DGP Rajeev Kumar and others regarding Enforcement Directorate (ED) petitions for allegedly obstructing raids at I-PAC last week, PTI reported.
The bench of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Vipul Pancholi also asked Banerjee and others to respond to the ED request for an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against them, according to a report by Bar and Bench.
The top court has directed Banerjee and others to file their counter-affidavits in response to the petitions by the ED in two weeks.
“We are of the prima facie view that the present petition has raised a serious issue relating to the investigation by the ED or other central agencies and interference by state agencies,” the report quoted the bench as saying.
"According to us, for adherence of rule of law in the country and to allow each organ to function independently, it is necessary to examine the issue so that offenders are not allowed to be protected under the seal of law enforcing agencies of a particular state," it added.
The bench ordered to preserve CCTV footage and storage devices from both the searched premises and nearby areas, the report said.
"It is directed that the respondents shall preserve the CCTV cameras and other storage devices containing the footage of both the premises searched and the CCTV cameras and other storage devices containing the footage of near areas," the bench was quoted in the report.
The court also suspended the First Information Reports (FIRs) filed by the West Bengal Police against ED officers involved in the searches.
The court will hear the matter next on 3 February.
SC on issues raised by ED
The court also expressed the view that neglecting the issues raised by ED could lead to lawlessness in the country.
“ According to us, large questions have been raised and are involved in the present matter, which if allowed to remain undecided, would further worsen the situation and there will be a situation of lawlessness prevailing in one or other state, considering that different outfits are governing different places," the bench was quoted as saying.
The court clarified that although no central agency has the authority to interfere with a party's election activities, political parties are not permitted to interfere with bona fide investigations conducted by agencies.
In addition to a CBI probe, the ED has sought a direction for the return of the evidence that Mamata Banerjee reportedly took from the I-PAC-linked premises.
I-PAC raids
Mamata Banerjee visited the I-PAC office and the residence of its co-founder last week during the ED probe related to a money-laundering investigation.
Banerjee is accused of removing certain documents and electronic devices from the premises, claiming they contained information related to her political party. I-PAC has been linked to the Trinamool Congress since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Meanwhile, the ED said that the searches are part of a probe in a 2020 money-laundering case linked to businessman Anup Majee, who faces allegations of coal smuggling.
