Tug of Power: Supreme Court Examines ED's Allegation Against Mamata Banerjee

The Supreme Court is addressing serious allegations by the ED against West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, concerning interference in central investigations. The court stayed an FIR against ED officials during a raid on the I-PAC office, highlighting significant questions on state and central agency roles in law enforcement.

The Supreme Court raised concerns on Thursday about serious accusations made by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging she obstructed their investigation. This has propelled the need to determine whether state law enforcement can impede central agency probes into significant offenses.

In response, the court paused the FIR registered in West Bengal against ED officials who conducted a raid at the I-PAC office and the home of its director, Pratik Jain. The bench also instructed the state police to preserve the CCTV footage from these searches.

With larger questions on maintaining the rule of law and the independence of investigative bodies, the court seeks to explore whether interference by states can result in lawlessness. The matter is scheduled for further hearings, emphasizing the necessity of delineating boundaries between state and central agencies.