Overview
- The High Court recorded the ED’s statement that nothing was seized from I-PAC or director Pratik Jain during the January 8 searches and disposed of the TMC’s petition.
- The Supreme Court is set to hear the ED’s plea on January 15 seeking a CBI inquiry and related directions over alleged interference by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and senior police officers.
- Noting that the ED has filed petitions in the apex court, the Calcutta High Court adjourned the agency’s separate application on the January 8 events.
- The ED has alleged Banerjee entered the search sites and removed files and devices, while the TMC says the raids aimed to access its confidential election data.
- The January 8 operations were part of a money-laundering probe linked to an alleged coal pilferage case with searches at 10 locations, and the state police later filed an FIR against ED officers.