SC to Hear ED Plea Against Mamata Banerjee Over Alleged I-PAC Raid Interference

April 23, 2026 : The Supreme Court is set to deliberate today on a petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The legal battle centers on claims that the Chief Minister obstructed a federal search operation at the offices of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) and the residence of its founder, Pratik Jain.

The dispute stems from ED raids conducted on January 8 in connection with a high-stakes money laundering investigation involving an alleged coal smuggling racket. The agency alleges that Banerjee arrived at the scene with a contingent of over 100 police officers and high-ranking officials, effectively interrupting the active search.

According to the ED’s filing, this intervention led to the unauthorized removal of critical evidence, including laptops, mobile devices, and sensitive documents detailing electoral data. The agency contends that this interference significantly compromised the integrity of their ongoing investigation.