I-PAC row: ‘Not a happy situation’, says SC on Mamata Banerjee ‘obstructing’ ED searches
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The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee allegedly obstructing searches being conducted by the Enforcement Directorate at the premises of political consultancy I-PAC is “not a happy situation”, The Indian Express reported.
Describing the incident as an “unusual happening”, a bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and NV Anjaria said that a central agency cannot be left without a remedy when its functioning is interrupted.
The Supreme Court asked if there can be no legal remedy to stop such situations from repeating.
The bench made the remarks while hearing a petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate against Banerjee and several West Bengal Police officers for allegedly obstructing the searches on January 8.
The central agency had conducted searches on January 8 at the political consultancy’s office in Kolkata’s Salt Lake area, the home of its head Pratik Jain and the office of a trader in the city’s Posta neighbourhood as part of an investigation into alleged money laundering.
The Indian Political Action Committee has managed the Trinamool Congress’ election campaigns, including in the 2021 Assembly elections.
Banerjee had arrived at Jain’s home around noon while the search was underway and stayed for about 20 to 25 minutes. She then came out with a file and claimed that the central agency’s officials were “taking...