The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday disposed of a petition filed by the Trinamool Congress filed for protection of personal and political data from the Enforcement Directorate. The ED last week raided the office and residence of I-PAC director Pratik Jain.
The TMC had approached the High Court seeking directions to safeguard data that it claimed may have been seized during the ED’s searches conducted on January 8 at the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) office in Salt Lake and Jain’s residence on Loudon Street in south Kolkata.
No documents seized
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the ED, informed the court that the agency had not seized any documents, electronic devices or data from either of the two premises during the raids. Taking note of this submission, Justice Suvra Ghosh said there was no further issue requiring adjudication.
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“In view of the submissions made on behalf of the Enforcement Directorate and the Union of India, nothing further remains to be dealt with in the present petition,” the court observed while disposing of the TMC’s plea.
The High Court also considered a separate petition filed by the ED seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the events of January 8, when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the I-PAC office and Jain’s residence during the ongoing searches.
That petition was adjourned after the ED informed the court that it had already moved a special leave petition before the Supreme Court seeking reliefs that were “almost identical” to those prayed for before the High Court.
Genesis of the controversy
The controversy came to fore from the ED’s raids at I-PAC, which has worked as an election strategist for the Trinamool Congress, in connection with its investigation into alleged money laundering linked to the coal scam. During the searches, Mamata Banerjee had rushed to the premises, following which the ED alleged that she obstructed its investigation and removed files and electronic devices.
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Subsequently, the ED approached the High Court alleging interference by the Chief Minister, while the TMC filed a counter petition claiming that its confidential data had been unlawfully taken.
At an earlier hearing, proceedings were disrupted due to commotion in the courtroom, forcing the court to adjourn the matter. The ED later moved the Supreme Court seeking action against Banerjee over the alleged obstruction during the raids. |
