SC to Hear ED Plea Against Mamata Banerjee's 'Interference' in Coal Scam Probe

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The Supreme Court will hear on Thursday a plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) accusing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of interfering with its probe into a multi-crore coal-pilferage scam. The ED alleges Banerjee and her administration obstructed and removed 'key' evidence from the premises of I-PAC, a political consultancy firm, during raids last week. A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Vipul Pancholi is scheduled to hear the matter. The West Bengal government has filed a caveat to ensure it is heard before any order is passed. The ED claims Banerjee's presence at the raid sites and the removal of documents had an intimidating effect on its officers, compromising the agency's ability to conduct an independent investigation. The agency has sought directions for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged interference by the state executive. This comes after the ED approached the Calcutta High Court on January 9, seeking a CBI probe against Banerjee, alleging she took away incriminating documents during the raid. The high court adjourned the hearing and disposed of a TMC petition seeking protection of its data. The ED's plea follows searches conducted on January 8 on the premises of I-PAC and its director, Pratik Jain, as part of a money-laundering probe. Banerjee and senior TMC leaders confronted ED officials and allegedly took away documents, sparking a controversy. The West Bengal Police has registered an FIR against ED officers, while the TMC has denied the ED's allegations of obstruction. The Assembly polls in West Bengal are due in a few months, and the ED's action against I-PAC has raised concerns about the agency's intentions. The TMC has accused the ED of trying to disrupt its electoral preparations rather than conducting a genuine investigation.