By Khabar Rojana 
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has moved the Calcutta High Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her alleged entry into the office of political consultancy firm I-PAC and the residence of its co-founder Pratik Jain during ED searches in a money laundering case.
The agency claimed that its search operation was obstructed and sought legal intervention to investigate the role of the Chief Minister, police officials, and others involved in the incident.
At the same time, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has filed a separate petition demanding the return of items allegedly seized during the ED raids on I-PAC.
The hearing witnessed brief chaos in the courtroom, prompting Justice Suvra Ghosh to rise from her chair before proceedings could continue. The judge later scheduled the next hearing for January 14.
According to documents ,the ED petition contains 12 key demands for the court’s consideration.
The ED has requested the court to issue a writ of mandamus directing the CBI to register FIRs and investigate the entire incident, including the alleged role of Mamata Banerjee, police officials, and others.
The agency also sought immediate seizure, sealing, and forensic preservation of documents and digital devices that were allegedly taken from the search premises. It has asked for the restoration of all electronic records, storage media, and documents to ED custody.
In its plea, the agency further requested the court to declare the alleged obstruction of its officers and wrongful confinement during the searches as unconstitutional and illegal.
The ED has also demanded preservation of CCTV footage from the premises and nearby areas, and interim orders preventing any tampering, deletion, or cloning of digital evidence. Additionally, it has sought protection for its officers from any coercive action.
In its counter petition, the Trinamool Congress has sought the immediate return of all items allegedly seized by the ED, including private, confidential, and sensitive documents and electronic data related to the party’s operations and business affairs.
The party argued that the seizure was illegal and violated procedural safeguards.
The Calcutta High Court is expected to hear both petitions together and decide on the legality of the raids and the competing claims.
Shalu Shalu