New Delhi, Jan 15: Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Thursday strongly criticised the recent obstruction faced by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) during search operations in West Bengal, telling the Supreme Court that it was “a case where mobocracy replaces democracy.”
Appearing for the central agency, Mehta informed a Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Vipul M. Pancholi that ED officials were prevented from carrying out their lawful duties through intimidation, disruption and show of force.
Referring to the raids at the office of Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) and the residence of its co-founder Pratik Jain in Kolkata, the Solicitor General alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with senior police officers, barged into the premises and interfered with the operation. He cited previous instances where central agency officials were allegedly gheraoed, attacked and threatened in the state.
Mehta further claimed that despite prior intimation to local police, senior officials took unauthorised custody of incriminating materials. Digital devices, documents and even an ED officer’s mobile phone were allegedly seized. Terming the actions criminal and demoralising, he sought judicial intervention, urging the apex court to initiate action, including suspension, against the erring officers.
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