Supreme Court Criticizes West Bengal Government Over I-PAC Case

The Supreme Court has expressed strong disapproval of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's interference in the Enforcement Directorate's investigations related to the I-PAC case. The court highlighted the need for measures to prevent such governmental obstruction of central agencies. During the hearings, arguments were made regarding constitutional provisions and the appropriate actions the central government should take. The case revolves around allegations of interference during ED raids linked to a money laundering investigation. As the court proceedings unfold, the implications for the state's political landscape and upcoming elections remain significant.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 18, 2026, 20:00 IST

Supreme Court's Strong Remarks

The Supreme Court has sharply criticized the West Bengal government regarding the I-PAC case, stating that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's interference in the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) raids is unacceptable. A bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and NV Anjaria emphasized that central investigative agencies cannot be left without recourse in such matters. The court raised concerns about a situation where a Chief Minister allegedly intrudes into government offices to obstruct the work of a central agency. It questioned what measures could be taken if another Chief Minister were to act similarly in the future, suggesting the need for a standard operating procedure (SOP) for such scenarios.

Legal Arguments Presented

Senior advocate Shyam Diwan, representing the Bengal government, argued that the Constitution provides a solution for such issues. He proposed that instead of filing writ petitions, the central government should initiate appropriate actions, allowing departments to function independently.

Understanding the I-PAC Case

The Supreme Court is currently hearing a petition from the ED, which alleges that Mamata Banerjee and her administration interfered during the raids on January 8 at the Kolkata office of the political consulting firm I-PAC and the residence of its head, Pratik Jain. These raids were part of an investigation into a money laundering case linked to an alleged coal scam. Dramatic events unfolded on January 8 when Banerjee arrived at Jain's residence during the raid, emerging with laptops, phones, and several documents. She then proceeded to the I-PAC office in Salt Lake, where another ED team was conducting searches, and exited with more files. The ED has described this as a gross misuse of power, while Banerjee claims the raids were politically motivated, orchestrated by the BJP ahead of crucial elections in Bengal scheduled for April 23 and 29.

Court Proceedings Update

In the ongoing court proceedings, the Supreme Court dismissed a request from the Bengal government to postpone the hearing on the ED's petition. Diwan sought additional time to respond to the ED's counter-affidavit, but Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, opposed this request, labeling it a tactic to delay proceedings, noting that the ED's response had been submitted four weeks prior. The bench decided to continue with the proceedings, to which Diwan remarked that he would not object if the court chose to overlook the ED's response. Justice Mishra responded, stating, "Why would we ignore anything? You cannot dictate terms. We will consider everything on record." The hearings are set to continue next week.