No docs seized, Mamata Banerjee illegally took records: ED to court on I-PAC raids
The court recorded the ED's categorical statement that nothing was seized during the searches conducted at the premises linked to the consultancy firm on January 8.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday told the Calcutta High Court that West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) president Mamata Banerjee was in "illegal possession" of documents and data that were allegedly removed during the agency’s raids at the office of political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) in Kolkata on January 8.
I-PAC is a political consultancy firm that has been engaged in curating poll strategy for the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress during elections.
Appearing for the ED, Additional Solicitor General Raju argued that Banerjee herself took away records and documents from the premises during the searches.
"Nothing was seized by the ED. Everything was taken away by Mamata Banerjee and her cohorts. She physically took all records and documents. She and the DGP should be made party," Raju submitted before the court, contending that Banerjee had committed an offence by impeding the investigation.
The submissions were made while the High Court was hearing a petition filed by the Trinamool Congress seeking "protection" of its political and electoral data, which it claimed could have been seized during the searches at the I-PAC office and at the residence of Prateek Jain.
The searches were conducted as part of a money laundering probe linked to an alleged multi-crore coal scam.
The Trinamool, however, accused the ED of "extraordinary bullying" and argued that politically sensitive data maintained by the party for years needed to be safeguarded, citing privacy rights.
Senior advocate Maneka Guruswamy, appearing for the party, told the court that the Trinamool was not pressing for any broader relief and only sought a formal assurance that its data had not been seized. She remarked that the party did not "bully courts, unlike the ED".
During the hearing, the ED strongly objected to the maintainability of the Trinamool’s petition, arguing that the affidavit had been filed by a person unconnected with the searched premises and lacking personal knowledge of any alleged seizure.
The agency maintained that the plea was speculative, vague and liable to be rejected, as it did not specify what "sensitive data" was allegedly taken.
On instructions, the ED categorically stated before the court that no records, documents or digital evidence were seized during the January 8 searches.
It further clarified that no backup of any data was made. The High Court took note of the panchanamas prepared during the searches, which also recorded that nothing was seized.
COURT CANCELS TRINAMOOL PLEA
In view of these submissions, the High Court held that nothing survived in the Trinamool Congress’s application and cancelled its plea seeking protection of data. The court recorded the ED’s categorical statement that no data had been seized.
During the proceedings, the court also asked the Trinamool why it had not made the Election Commission of India a party to the case, given its allegation that poll-related data was at risk or had been accessed during the searches.
Separately, the ED’s own plea seeking action against Mamata Banerjee for allegedly obstructing the investigation was adjourned.
The agency has accused the Chief Minister of entering the search locations and removing crucial evidence, including documents and electronic devices—allegations that Banerjee has denied, accusing the ED of overreach.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the ED’s pleas on Thursday against the West Bengal government and Mamata Banerjee in connection with the same matter.
The case will be taken up by a Bench led by Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra.
ED RAIDS AT I-PAC OFFICE, PRATIK JAIN'S HOME
The ED searched the Kolkata premises of political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) and its director, Pratik Jain, on January 8 in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged multi-crore coal pilferage scam.
The ED alleged that Mamata Banerjee entered the search locations and removed crucial evidence, including documents and electronic devices.
The Trinamool chief, though, denied the allegations, accusing the agency of overreach.
Following this, the ED approached the Calcutta High Court seeking a CBI probe against the Chief Minister. The High Court adjourned the hearing on that plea to Wednesday, January 14.