ED, TMC approach SC over I-PAC raids

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on the political consultants of Trinamool Congress got murkier on Saturday as the central probe agency approached the Supreme Court by filing an Article 32 petition, while the West Bengal government filed a caveat in the same court seeking that no order be passed without hearing it in connection with ED raids against I-PAC, a consultancy firm.

Political tussle ensued between the BJP and the TMC in poll-bound West Bengal as Kolkata Police lodged an FIR against ED officials allegedly involved in ‘theft’ of documents from the residence of I-PAC chief Pratik Jain and the consultancy firm’s office.

The ED had conducted searches on the premises of I-PAC on Thursday and against its director, Pratik Jain, in Kolkata as part of a money laundering probe into an alleged multi-crore rupee coal pilferage scam. According to the agency, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee entered the raid sites and took away ‘key’ evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices. Banerjee has accused the central agency of overreach.

The ED, on Friday, had approached the Calcutta High Court, seeking a CBI probe against Banerjee, alleging that she, with the aid of the police, took away incriminating documents from the agency’s

custody during the raid at Jain's home.

The ED, in its petition in the SC, has alleged that its investigation into the I-PAC coal scam case was obstructed by the West Bengal Government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In its plea, the ED has sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the incident, claiming that its “right to conduct a fair and independent investigation has been curtailed by the state machinery”.

 Kolkata Police, on their part,  lodged an FIR and tried to identify the central agency personnel present at both locations during the operation. On Saturday morning, officers from Shakespeare Sarani Police Station visited Jain’s residence and collected CCTV footage and DVR recordings. “Statements of household staff and security personnel were also recorded. Once identification is complete, notices will be issued to the accused,” said a Kolkata police officer.

West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee lodged two police complaints against the ED in connection with the agency’s raids at the office of I-PAC and the residence of Prateek Jain. Based on the complaints, the Kolkata and Bidhannagar Police initiated investigations.

Banerjee lodged her complaints against unknown ED officials and CRPF personnel at the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station, and against unknown ED sleuths at the Electronic Complex Police Station under the Bidhannagar Police, in connection with the agency’s raids at Jain’s Loudon Street residence and his Salt Lake office, respectively, on Thursday.

Cases at the Shakespeare Sarani police station were lodged under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) about criminal intimidation, theft and criminal trespass, as well as under Section 66 of the IT Act, which deals with computer-related offences, criminalising dishonest or fraudulent acts like unauthorised access or data damage, the police officer said.

Besides, police also lodged a suo motu case at the same police station against the agency late on Thursday evening.

Talking more about the case, an officer said that the central agency personnel had conducted a search at Jain’s Loudon Street apartment on Thursday morning around 6:15 am, but Kolkata Police were informed only five hours later via email.

Police have registered cases at the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station in Kolkata and the Electronic Complex Police Station in Bidhannagar under relevant sections for theft, and offences like criminal trespass, in addition to sections of the IT Act.

According to the complaint, unidentified ED and CRPF personnel entered Jain's apartment and the I-PAC office in Salt Lake Sector V, allegedly removing documents and electronic data. “The ED officials did not show identity cards or inform local authorities of the search. When police requested details, including the court-issued search warrant, they were allegedly pushed and blocked from entering the premises,” the officer said. The investigations are ongoing, and all aspects, including the role of the central agency personnel, are being examined, he said.