Mamata Banerjee's Intervention Sparks ED's Plea in Calcutta HC Over Raid Obstructions

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Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sought permission from the Calcutta High Court to file a petition alleging obstruction in its money laundering probe, following West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's dramatic intervention at the residence of Pratik Jain during a raid on Thursday. The ED conducted searches at 10 locations, including I-PAC's office and Jain's residence, as part of a probe into alleged money laundering in West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee, who is also the poll strategist for Trinamool Congress, arrived at Jain's residence during the raid and allegedly took key evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices. The ED claims that Banerjee's actions, along with those of the Kolkata Police Commissioner, led to obstructions in the ongoing probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The probe agency denies Banerjee's claims that the raids were politically motivated, saying they were evidence-based and not targeted at any political establishment. Instead, the ED claims that the search is part of a regular crackdown on money laundering and is conducted in accordance with established legal safeguards. The ED's plea in the Calcutta High Court comes as I-PAC also approached the court to challenge the legality of the probe agency's raids. The high drama has sparked a heated debate over the alleged interference in the ED's investigation, with the agency seeking to ensure that its probe is conducted without obstruction.