The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has escalated its legal battle by approaching the Supreme Court of India, seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into alleged obstruction by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and state officials during recent raids on the offices of political consultancy I-PAC. The move sets the stage for a major confrontation between the central agency and the Trinamool Congress-led state government.
Legal Moves and Anticipated Hearing
On Sunday, January 12, 2026, the ED filed its petition in the apex court. The agency is expected to request an urgent hearing before the Chief Justice of India on Monday, January 13. Anticipating this move, the West Bengal government has already filed a caveat in the Supreme Court. This legal precaution ensures that no order can be passed in the matter without the state being heard first.
The development follows parallel petitions already filed by both the ED and the Trinamool Congress in the Calcutta High Court. The High Court proceedings witnessed chaos last Friday, leading Justice Suvra Ghosh to adjourn the hearing until January 14, 2026.
The Raid and the Alleged Interference
The controversy stems from searches conducted by the ED on Thursday, January 9, 2026. The agency raided ten locations connected to the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), which is managing the TMC's election campaign. These actions were part of a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged coal smuggling case, based on a 2020 CBI FIR.
The situation took a dramatic turn when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally arrived at the residence of I-PAC director Pratik Jain while the searches were ongoing. She was seen leaving the apartment with a laptop and a green folder. Subsequently, she also visited the I-PAC office and removed several files. The ED has alleged that its officers were wrongfully restrained from performing their statutory duties and that seized digital devices and documents were forcibly taken from their lawful custody.
Core Allegations and Agency's Stance
In its petition, the ED has urged the Supreme Court to direct the CBI to register an FIR and investigate the entire incident, focusing on the role of the Chief Minister, police officials, and others. The agency's plea to the top court is likely to mirror its earlier petition in the High Court.
The ED maintains that its investigation has uncovered a hawala network through which crores of rupees were routed, with I-PAC being among the entities allegedly linked to these transactions. It has consistently stated that the raids were evidence-based, not election-linked, and conducted strictly according to the law.
Both the ED and the TMC have asked the Calcutta High Court to order the return of all documents taken during the incident, highlighting the legal complexity and the high-stakes political battle now unfolding in multiple courts.
