I-PAC raid: ED moves court, demands CBI probe against Mamata Banerjee

ED on Friday has approached the Calcutta High Court seeking a CBI probe against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her alleged interference during raid at IPAC consultancy firmThe Enforcement Directorate ED while approaching the High Court alleged that the West Bengal Chief Minister with the aid of the police took away incriminating documents from the agencys custody during a raid at IPAC director Pratik Jains homeIn a petition before the court the federal probe agency also alleged that the CM a constitutional functionary illegally interfered with and obstructed a lawful search operation conducted under the PMLA at the residence of the political consultancy firms director in a money laundering case linked to an alleged coal pilferage scam reported PTIAs reported by news agency PTI the writ petition states that these actions by the West Bengal Chief Minister led to a complete takeover of its search operation by the state machineryED claims Mamata Banerjee removed key evidence during the raidThe Enforcement Directorate further alleged that during lawful search proceedings digital devices electronic storage media and key incriminating documents were forcibly removed seized concealed and stolen from the lawful custody of ED officers by the Honble Chief Minister with the aid of state policeEarlier on Thursday the West Bengal Chief Minister unexpectedly arrived at the office of the IPAC which provides political consultancy to the ruling partyThe federal probe agency further stated that there was direct involvement of the highest political executive and abuse of police power during the raid to tamper with the evidence The Enforcement Directorate ED further demanded a CBI probe into the matterED demands CBI probeThe Enforcement Directorate has further urged the Calcutta High Court to direct the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI to register FIRs and investigate the entire incident including the role of the present respondents being the chief minister police officials and all persons acting in concert as reported by news agency PTIThe agency added that a probe by the CBI was essential as both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court have consistently held that where the high and mighty in the state are involved in the commission of cognisable offences investigation ought to be transferred to the CBIThe ED also sought immediate seizure sealing forensic preservation and restoration to lawful custody of the ED of all digital devices electronic records storage media and documents illegally and forcibly that were taken away from the search premisesCalcutta High Court to hear the petition next weekThe ED conducted a search at the Salt Lake office of IPAC and the Kolkata residence of Jain on Thursday as part of its probe into the alleged coal scamlinked money laundering case Some other locations in the state and Delhi were also raidedThe central agencys petition said that during the search operations Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma came and was being briefed by ED officers about the search proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA when the CM entered the premisesChief Minister Mamata Banerjee forcibly entered the premisesIt claimed the chief minister entered the premises despite a categorical request being made by ED officials not to interfere with the ongoing search proceedings under PMLAThe agency also said However violating all law and order Mamata Banerjee with the aid of police personnel forcibly took possession of all digital devices along with key incriminating documents from the possession of the authorised officer and left the premises around 1215 PM as per PTIWith inputs from PTI