The row over I-PAC raids has escalated as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday filed a fresh application in the Supreme Court calling for the suspension of West Bengal Director General of Police, Rajiv Kumar.
In its plea, the ED has also called for disciplinary action against senior officials of the West Bengal Police, alleging misconduct and lack of cooperation during the agency’s investigation.
The central agency has further urged the apex court to direct the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the officials concerned.
The ED moved the Supreme Court after failing to get urgent relief from the Calcutta High Court, where it sought a CBI investigation into the role of Banerjee, senior police officials and others for allegedly obstructing its raids in Kolkata. The HC judge adjourned the case last week after chaos broke out in the courtroom.
The legal battle stems from ED’s raids on the I-PAC office and the residence of Pratik Jain, the director of the political action committee, earlier this month. The ED has alleged that the Chief Minister took away incriminating documents from the agency’s custody during the raid at Jain’s home.
The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Thursday a plea moved by the ED alleging interference and obstruction by the West Bengal government, including by Banerjee, in its probe and search operation at the I-PAC office and the premises of its director, Pratik Jain, in connection with an alleged coal-pilferage scam.
According to the cause list of the apex court, a bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Vipul Pancholi is likely to hear the matter.
The West Bengal government has also filed a caveat in the top court, seeking that no order should be passed without hearing it in connection with the ED raids against political-consultancy firm I-PAC last week.
A caveat is filed by a litigant in high courts and the Supreme Court to ensure that no adverse order is passed against it without it being heard.
The ED has also alleged that Banerjee entered the raid sites and took away "key" evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices, from the premises of I-PAC and obstructed and interfered with the investigation in the case.
The ED has further claimed in its plea that the chief minister's presence at the search site and the alleged removal of documents had an intimidating effect on officers and seriously compromised the federal probe agency's ability to discharge its statutory functions independently.
The probe agency has alleged repeated obstructions and non-cooperation by the state administration and sought directions for an independent inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), contending that a neutral central agency is necessary in view of the "interference" by the state executive.
(With inputs from agencies)Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
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