'Come everyone’: ED cites WhatsApp chats to allege TMC role in courtroom chaos

Mamata Banerjee leads protest in Kolkata against ED over I-PAC raids

• WhatsApp chats show TMC legal cell asked lawyers to gather in Calcutta HC courtroom
• Chaos disrupted ED vs I-Pac hearing; judge adjourned to Jan 14.
• Calcutta HC limited courtroom access to senior counsel and advocates-on-record.

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The Trinamool Congress legal cell allegedly played a role in the chaos that broke out inside the Calcutta High Court during the January 9 hearing in the Enforcement Directorate versus I-Pac case, according to WhatsApp chats cited by the ED before the Supreme Court.

The central agency placed screenshots from a WhatsApp group titled “Legal Minds” before the court. One message, written in Bengali, read: “Today 09.01.2026, Court No. 5, Item No. 10. Come everyone.”

The same message also called for a gathering later in the day. “At 1 pm today, there will be a gathering at B Gate. Come everyone. We will go to the procession of Hon’ble Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Bus and vehicle arrangements have been made.”

Another message in the group explicitly asked lawyers to assemble inside Court No. 5, where the I-Pac matter was listed.

Soon after, messages circulated urging members to join Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s rally against the ED raids at the I-Pac office.

The hearing at the Calcutta High Court was disrupted even before proceedings could begin. Lawyers crowded the courtroom, pushing and jostling, prompting Justice Suvra Ghosh to repeatedly ask those not connected to the case to leave.

When order was not restored, the judge warned that she would step out if the courtroom was not cleared within five minutes. As arguments continued over who should remain inside, Justice Ghosh left the courtroom and adjourned the hearing till January 14.

Following the disruption, hearings in petitions filed by both the ED and the Trinamool Congress were deferred to January 14.

In its petition, the ED has sought a Central Bureau of Investigation probe against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging she interfered in the agency’s coal scam investigation during searches at the I-Pac office and the residence of I-Pac chief Pratik Jain.

When the matter was taken up again on Monday, the Calcutta High Court issued an advisory restricting courtroom entry to senior counsel, their assisting lawyers, and advocates-on-record representing both sides.