ED tells Supreme Court CM shows ‘shocking pattern’ of interference during raids

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday told the Supreme Court that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has shown a “shocking pattern” of barging into premises when statutory authorities carry out official proceedings.

The remarks were made during the hearing of a petition filed by the ED alleging interference in its raids on political consultancy firm I-PAC in Kolkata last week. I-PAC works for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

In its petition under Article 32 of the Constitution, the ED has sought directions to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the West Bengal government to suspend several senior police officers for alleged obstruction of its operations. Those named include West Bengal Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma and Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Kolkata) Priyabatra Roy.

Appearing for the ED, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju argued that the incidents point to a troubling pattern.

“It reflects a very shocking pattern emerging. In the past also, whenever statutory authorities exercised statutory power, the chief minister barges into premises,” Mehta said, according to LiveLaw.

He alleged that senior officials accompanied the chief minister and acted as “accomplices,” claiming police officers sat on dharna with political leaders and that one officer was “personally aggrieved.”

“Director, commissioner accompanied her. They were accomplices. Officers sat on dharna with political leaders. One officer is personally aggrieved. Joint Director, CBI’s house was gheraoed. Stones were pelted,” Mehta said.

The matter is being heard by a Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Vipul Pancholi.