Interference in ED Probe: Supreme Court Makes Strong Observations Against Mamata

The Supreme Court has made severe observations regarding the conduct of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The Court clarified that it is inappropriate for the Chief Minister and senior officials to directly interfere in the ongoing ED investigation into the political consultancy firm 'I-PAC' in connection with a money laundering case. It stated that such actions risk pushing democracy into peril.

The ED has been conducting an investigation for some time now into a money laundering case linked to the coal scam in Bengal. However, the ED approached the Supreme Court alleging that government officials—along with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee—were interfering in this investigation.

While hearing the case, the Supreme Court remarked that even the architect of the Constitution, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, could not have imagined that a person holding the position of Chief Minister would conduct themselves in such a manner. "This is not a dispute between the State and the Centre. It is not justifiable for a Chief Minister to directly interfere in an investigation. Do not turn this into a political dispute," the Court observed.

Presenting arguments on behalf of the ED, the counsel informed the Court that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accompanied by her officials, had visited the residence of I-PAC co-founder Pratik Jain while ED raids were being conducted there. It is pertinent to note that I-PAC has been providing its services to the TMC party since 2021.