Did I-PAC Officials Face Hindrances During ED Raids?
Synopsis
The Enforcement Directorate claims to have compelling evidence against local police hindering their operations during raids on I-PAC's Kolkata office and co-founder Pratik Jain's residence. This situation raises significant concerns about political interference in law enforcement activities, prompting the ED to seek urgent judicial relief.
Key Takeaways
The ED has evidence of police obstruction during raids.
Political figures are implicated in the obstruction claims.
The case has escalated to the Supreme Court for urgent intervention.
Next hearing is set for January 14.
The situation raises concerns about law enforcement integrity.
Kolkata, Jan 10 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) reportedly possesses substantial evidence to demonstrate how its officials, alongside Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel, encountered obstacles and were even harassed by officers from both West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police during coordinated raid and search operations at the Kolkata office of the India Political Action Committee (I-PAC) and the residence of co-founder Pratik Jain on January 8, as claimed by agency insiders on Saturday.
While ED officials have remained discreet about the specifics of the evidence they hold, insiders indicated that it does not include any recordings from CCTV cameras at Jain's residence on Loudon Street or the I-PAC office located in Salt Lake.
Moreover, insiders revealed that the agency has adequate proof regarding the alleged conduct of state police personnel towards CAPF members at the entrance of Jain's home, as well as towards the raiding officials inside the premises.
The ED has already submitted a petition to the Supreme Court, seeking immediate intervention in the situation. The state government has also filed a caveat in the apex court to avert an ex parte hearing.
Initially, the ED approached the single-judge bench of Justice Suvra Ghosh at the Calcutta High Court, accusing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and senior state officials of misusing their constitutional powers to obstruct central agency officials in performing their duties.
However, the matter was not heard by Justice Ghosh’s bench on Friday due to an excessive crowd in the courtroom, prompting Justice Ghosh to schedule January 14 for the next hearing.
Subsequently, the ED sought an urgent hearing from a division bench led by Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, requesting to be heard before any other single-judge bench. However, this request was denied, and the bench reaffirmed that the next hearing would occur on January 14, as previously arranged by Justice Ghosh.
Following this, the ED escalated the matter to the Supreme Court.
Point of View
It's crucial to provide an unbiased overview of the ongoing situation. The Enforcement Directorate's claims of obstruction by the West Bengal Police highlight a significant concern regarding the independence of central agencies. Balancing law enforcement and political authority is vital for maintaining public trust in governance.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What evidence does the ED have against the police?
The ED claims to have substantial evidence demonstrating that its officials faced hindrances and harassment from the West Bengal and Kolkata Police during their operations.
What actions has the ED taken in response?
The ED has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking urgent intervention regarding the alleged obstruction faced during their raids.
What is the timeline of the hearings?
The initial hearing was scheduled for January 14 following an excessive crowd in the courtroom that prevented proceedings from taking place.
