ED Tells Supreme Court Mamata Obstructed I-PAC Probe, Raises Rule of Law Concerns

The Supreme Court on Thursday examined allegations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that Mamata Banerjee obstructed a federal probe linked to a ₹2,700 crore coal smuggling case , raising serious concerns over the rule of law and federal balance . The case originates from a January 8 search operation at the Kolkata office of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) , where the ED alleged that the Chief Minister, accompanied by a large police contingent, intervened and halted the search , seized documents, and disrupted data collection.

The controversy is rooted in a wider investigation into an alleged illegal coal mining and smuggling network , first registered in 2020, involving coal theft from Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) areas in West Bengal and its subsequent sale through illegal channels. Investigators have alleged that coal worth over ₹2,700 crore was siphoned off through organised operations involving multiple actors, with suspected links to money laundering and hawala transactions .

As part of this expanding probe, the ED conducted multiple raids across Kolkata, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad , targeting premises linked to I-PAC and its officials. These searches triggered a major political flashpoint after Banerjee and Trinamool Congress leaders entered the premises during the operation, with the ED claiming that key documents and electronic evidence were removed, while the state leadership denied the allegations and accused the agency of political overreach.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the incident reflected a “complete breakdown of law and order” and violated the fundamental rights of ED officers. The proceedings saw sharp exchanges with senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, while the court raised key questions over the ED invoking Article 32 , which is typically meant for individuals.

The ED has sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) , alleging retaliatory FIRs , wrongful confinement, and lack of a fair investigation by state police. The Supreme Court, in strong observations, noted that a Chief Minister’s interference in an ongoing probe could place democracy in peril and undermine institutional integrity.

The case has intensified the ongoing Centre–state conflict , particularly in poll-bound West Bengal, where the ED’s expanding investigations into financial crimes have become a major political flashpoint. What began as a money-laundering probe has now evolved into a broader confrontation involving raids, legal battles, and questions over the autonomy of investigative agencies , with I-PAC emerging as a key node in the controversy.

With the next hearing scheduled for May 13 , the outcome is expected to have far-reaching implications for investigative autonomy , the limits of state power , and the interpretation of constitutional protections in India’s legal framework.