The case stems from an ED search conducted on January 8 at Jain’s Kolkata residence as part of a money laundering investigation linked to the alleged coal smuggling case in West Bengal. The operation drew political attention after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached the spot during the raid, prompting sharp exchanges between the ruling party and the central agency.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the ED, represented by Additional Solicitor General Raju, objected to the maintainability of the TMC’s petition. The ASG argued that the plea could not be entertained unless Banerjee herself was made a party to the case. He contended that the petition had been filed by a political party on behalf of an individual who was not directly before the court, questioning the legal standing of the TMC in the matter.
Raju further told the court that if any documents or materials were taken during the raid, they were not seized by the ED. He alleged that Banerjee had removed files from the premises during the search, describing the act as illegal and a serious obstruction of a lawful investigation. The ED has maintained that its officials faced resistance and disruptions during the operation.
The High Court did not pass any finding on the merits of these allegations but observed that the petition, as filed, suffered from procedural infirmities. On that basis, it declined to entertain the plea. The court also noted that issues arising from the raid and the conduct of parties involved were already under judicial scrutiny.
Counsel appearing for the TMC reiterated that no documents were seized by the ED during the search and denied allegations of obstruction. The party has consistently maintained that the raid was politically motivated and aimed at harassing those associated with the ruling dispensation.
With the High Court declining to proceed on the petition, attention has shifted to the Supreme Court, which is scheduled to hear related aspects of the case on Wednesday. Legal experts say the apex court’s observations could be significant in determining the scope of ED searches and the role of third parties during enforcement actions.
As the probe continues, the ED has indicated that further investigation into the alleged money laundering network linked to the coal smuggling case is underway, while political and legal battles over the raid are expected to intensify.
