The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is preparing to escalate its legal battle to the Supreme Court, alleging direct interference by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her administration during its searches at the offices of political consultancy firm I-PAC in Kolkata. The agency plans to file its petition by late Saturday night or early Sunday.
Legal Chess: Caveats and Courtroom Chaos
Anticipating the ED's move, the West Bengal government has already filed a caveat in the Supreme Court. This legal precaution ensures that no order can be passed on the matter without the state being heard first. This development follows a tumultuous session in the Calcutta High Court on Friday, January 10, 2026.
Both the ED and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) had filed separate petitions before the High Court. However, the hearing before Justice Suvra Ghosh was abruptly adjourned to January 14 after chaos erupted in the courtroom as soon as proceedings began. The ED, frustrated by the delay, decided to take the matter to the apex court.
"We are not being allowed to conduct statutory investigations," a senior ED official stated. "The matter could not be heard by the HC due to ruckus in the court. We even wrote an email to the Chief Justice and met him personally. But things have not moved forward. So we are petitioning the Supreme Court now."
The Raid and the Chief Minister's Dramatic Appearance
The controversy stems from searches conducted by the ED on Thursday, January 9, 2026. The agency raided 10 locations linked to I-PAC, the firm managing the TMC's election campaign. The raids were part of a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged coal smuggling case, based on a 2020 CBI FIR.
The situation took a dramatic turn when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally arrived at the residence of I-PAC director Pratik Jain while the searches were underway. She later emerged from the apartment carrying a laptop and a green folder. The Chief Minister also proceeded to I-PAC's office and removed several files.
Allegations and Counter-Allegations
In its High Court petition, the ED has made serious accusations. It claims the Chief Minister and senior police officers obstructed a lawful search under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), leading to a "breakdown of the rule of law." The agency alleges its officers were wrongfully restrained, and digital devices and documents seized during the search were forcibly removed from their custody.
The ED contends this "irreversibly compromised" digital evidence and broke the chain of custody. It has urged the High Court to direct the CBI to register an FIR and investigate the entire incident, including the role of the Chief Minister and police officials. The agency seeks immediate restoration of the seized items, protection for its officers, and an independent probe.
In a sharp counter, the TMC's petition demands the return of all "private, confidential and sensitive data" seized during the raids, declaring the ED's actions "void and illegal." The party has asked the court to restrain the probe agency from any coercive steps.
Meanwhile, the Kolkata Police have registered two FIRs against the ED and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), intensifying the standoff between the state and central agencies.
The ED maintains its action was evidence-based and not election-linked, stemming from a probe that uncovered a hawala network routing crores of rupees, with I-PAC allegedly among the connected entities. As the legal duel reaches the Supreme Court, this confrontation sets a significant precedent in the ongoing tussle between the Centre and the West Bengal government.
