ED accuses Mamata Banerjee of several charges in I-PAC raid case, SC says we will investigate

News Topical, Digital Desk : The Supreme Court is hearing today a petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The petition accuses the Bengal government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of interfering in the ED's raid on the I-PAC office and the home of its director, Pratik Jain, and obstructing the investigation. A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Vipul Pancholi is hearing the case.

Before moving the Supreme Court, the ED had approached the Calcutta High Court on January 9 seeking a CBI investigation against Banerjee. However, the hearing was postponed due to a ruckus in the High Court.

What argument did ED give in the Supreme Court?

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, told the bench, "This incident shows a very shocking pattern. It will only encourage such activities, and central forces will be discouraged. State governments will feel they can enter, steal, and then stage a sit-in. An example must be set; the officials present there must be immediately suspended. There was evidence that concluded that objectionable material was lying in the I-PAC office. During the hearing of our petition, a large number of lawyers and others entered the Calcutta HC; this is what happens when democracy is replaced by mobocracy."

On Sibal's argument, the Supreme Court said that it would send a notice

Kapil Sibal, representing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said the Chief Minister's allegation that she took away all the equipment was false. This is proven by her own panchnama. This is only meant to create prejudice. Information is provided to the court through panchnama.

To this, Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra said, "Your claim is contradictory. If they (ED) had intended to seize, they would have done so, but nothing of that sort has happened." Justice Mishra said, "We have to investigate. You cannot stop us from issuing notice."

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