Mamata Banerjee Challenges ED Plea in Supreme Court Over I-PAC Search Allegations

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee contested the ED's Supreme Court plea alleging obstruction during a search at political firm I-PAC. She argues that the plea is unjustified and failed to use alternative legal channels. Banerjee accuses ED of unlawfully accessing party data, stressing innocence and procedural lapses by the ED.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday challenged the maintainability of the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution in the Supreme Court. She contends that the court's writ jurisdiction is applicable only to fundamental rights enforcement and not to statutory violations or factual disputes.

In response to the ED's accusation of obstruction during its search at the office of I-PAC, linked to her party, Banerjee argued the plea lacked grounds. She criticized the ED for bypassing alternative legal remedies available under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and not adhering to necessary legal procedures, such as approaching a magistrate.

Banerjee further alleged that the ED engaged in forum shopping by filing similar petitions in different courts. She accused the agency of illegally accessing the Trinamool Congress's confidential data under the guise of raids, claiming the searches lacked necessary documentation and were possibly conducted for unlawful purposes.

(With inputs from agencies.)