Hearing in the I-pack raid case was held in the Supreme Court today. During this, the court accepted that the state tried to interfere in the functioning of the Central Investigation Agency. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, argued that the Chief Minister himself was an accused in this case, while the DGP of West Bengal played the role of an accomplice. Because the work of stealing files and documents from the office was done by CM Mamata Banerjee herself.
In this matter, the court also appeared strict on the Mamata government. This is being seen as a big setback for the Mamata government.
-There was interference in the work of investigating agency, Mamta government should reply within 2 weeks, Supreme order. I-PAC ruckus story
5 big shocks to Mamata Banerjee government from Supreme Court
- During the ED raid in Kolkata, when CM Mamata Banerjee and police administration officials went to the I-PAC office and took away files etc., the Supreme Court accepted that there was interference in the work of the investigating agency. In fact, during the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had said that ED officials had received information about some documents at the raid site, which are under investigation. The local police was informed about the raid, but Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee illegally reached the raid site and stole the documents.
- The Supreme Court stayed the proceedings of four FIRs registered against ED officials. The court said that state government agencies do not have the right to interfere in the central investigation. This case raises serious questions on the rule of law and independent functioning of constitutional institutions in the country.
- The Supreme Court has sought answers from the West Bengal Police Administration and Mamata Government. In this case, the court has issued notice to the government and state police officials and ordered them to file their reply within two weeks.
- Opinion has been sought from the Union Home Ministry and Mamata government on the demand for suspension of Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar and Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma.
- The Supreme Court has directed the police administration in Bengal to keep the CCTV footage related to the incident safe. The court said that all CCTV footage and electronic devices should be kept safe, so that no evidence is affected in the further hearing.
State agencies have no right to interfere in central investigation
The Supreme Court clearly commented that the ED has no right to interfere in election work or party activities, along with this the state government agencies also do not have the right to interfere in the central investigation. In its order, the court also took on record the ED’s argument that the legal cell of TMC sent WhatsApp messages to gather crowd in the High Court on January 9, due to which a situation like chaos was created in the court premises. SG Tushar Mehta termed it a serious issue and said that senior police officers of the state also have a role in this activity, the Supreme Court should investigate it.