Supreme Court to Hear ED Plea Against Mamata Banerjee Over Obstruction Allegations

The Supreme Court will hear the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) plea on May 22, alleging obstruction by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a search of the I-PAC office in Kolkata. The ED claims Banerjee used state machinery to intervene, raising concerns about potential interference in democratic processes.

The Supreme Court announced it will hear the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) plea on May 22, which alleges obstruction by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a search at the political consultancy firm I-PAC's office in Kolkata.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued for an earlier date, stressing the severity of the interference claims. The ED alleges that Banerjee personally intervened with police support, halting the search and seizing evidence related to an investigation into the I-PAC office.

The court is set to address the maintainability of the ED's plea and the implications for democracy when state machinery is allegedly used against federal investigations. This comes in the wake of the BJP securing a historic victory in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections.