West Bengal government files caveat in Supreme Court over ED raids

The West Bengal government has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court seeking a hearing before any order is passed in connection with Enforcement Directorate raids on political consultancy firm I-PAC. The agency has alleged removal of evidence during the searches

New Delhi: The West Bengal government has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court, seeking that no order be passed without hearing it in connection with the Enforcement Directorate raids on political consultancy firm I-PAC.

A caveat is filed by a litigant in the high courts and the Supreme Court to ensure that no adverse order is passed against it without it being heard.

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted searches at the premises of I-PAC and its director Pratik Jain in Kolkata as part of a money laundering probe into an alleged multi-crore coal pilferage scam.

According to the agency, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee entered the raid sites and took away “key” evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices.

Banerjee has accused the central agency of overreach.

The ED on Friday approached the Calcutta High Court, seeking a CBI probe against Banerjee, alleging that she, with the aid of the police, removed incriminating documents from the agency’s custody during the raid at Jain’s residence.