Kolkata: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has approached the Calcutta High Court alleging interference in its investigation and removal of crucial documents during its raids, while political consultancy firm I-PAC, linked to a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, has termed the searches illegal and moved the same court.
Government sources said the raids were part of a money laundering investigation linked to the alleged multi-crore coal smuggling scam. The ED on Tuesday conducted searches at the office of I-PAC and the residence of its director Pratik Jain, who is also the head of the TMC IT cell.
The agency carried out raids at six locations in West Bengal, including Kolkata, and four places in Delhi. During the operation, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached the Kolkata premises and stayed there for a considerable time. When she came out, she was seen holding a file.
Mamata Banerjee said that the Union home minister was getting files removed from her office. The ED, however, alleged that Mamata Banerjee took away important documents during the raid. Following this, the agency moved the Calcutta High Court, where the matter is scheduled to be heard on Wednesday.
Mamata Banerjee also said she would file a case against the ED’s forensic team over the raids. The ED said it had sufficient evidence on the basis of which the searches were conducted. Meanwhile, the TMC termed the ED action politically motivated.
