Calcutta High Court Sets Hearing for ED and TMC Petitions on I-PAC Raid
The Calcutta High Court will conduct a hearing on Wednesday regarding petitions filed by the Enforcement Directorate and the Trinamool Congress. These petitions concern a recent raid conducted by the central agency at the residence and office of Pratik Jain, who serves as the director of the political consultancy firm I-PAC.
Restricted Courtroom Entry Ordered to Prevent Chaos
Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul has directed that the hearings will proceed with regulated entry into the courtroom. This decision comes after unmanageable chaos disrupted proceedings in Justice Suvra Ghosh's courtroom on January 9. On that day, the matters were originally scheduled for hearing.
Justice Ghosh had to adjourn the hearing until January 14. She left her chair after repeated requests for unrelated individuals to leave the courtroom went unheeded.
Strict Guidelines for Courtroom Attendance
An administrative notice issued by the court outlines specific attendance rules. Only senior counsels, their assisting lawyers, and the advocate-on-record representing both parties will be physically present during the hearing.
The notice clearly states that court proceedings for these two petitions will be live streamed. It further specifies that any individual other than the petitioners and respondents who wishes to participate may do so virtually.
Background of the Controversial Raid
The Enforcement Directorate conducted raids on January 8 at multiple locations in Kolkata. During these operations, TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally visited the agency's operation venues. She alleged that ED investigators were attempting to seize the party's sensitive data ahead of upcoming assembly elections scheduled in a few months.
The central probe agency countered these allegations by accusing Banerjee of removing documents from the raid spot. This exchange has intensified the political tensions surrounding the investigation.
Legal Positions of Both Parties
Both the Trinamool Congress and the Enforcement Directorate have approached the high court regarding the raid. The TMC has sought judicial intervention to restrain the agency from what they describe as "prejudice, misuse and dissemination" of seized data during search operations.
The ED, in its petition, has alleged interference in its investigation. The agency has prayed for transferring the probe into January 8 developments to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Key Respondents in the Legal Battle
The Enforcement Directorate has named Mamata Banerjee as a respondent in its petition, along with several state officers. Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress has filed its petition against the Union of India, setting the stage for a significant legal confrontation between state and central authorities.
This hearing represents a critical juncture in the ongoing political and legal drama surrounding the raid on I-PAC premises. The court's decisions could have substantial implications for both the investigation and the upcoming electoral landscape in West Bengal.
