The Enforcement Directorate (ED) made a move on Wednesday to stall proceedings in the Calcutta High Court regarding last week’s raids on political consultant Pratik Jain. During the hearing, the agency informed the court that it has officially approached the Supreme Court on the matter, arguing that the High Court should hit the pause button while the top court reviews the case.
The legal tussle stems from recent searches at Jain’s residence and office, which have drawn a sharp reaction from the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Representing the party, advocate Menaka Guruswamy told the court that their primary concern is the protection of party data that may have been swept up during the searches.
However, the ED’s request for an adjournment met with stiff resistance from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s legal team. Senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee, appearing for the CM — who was personally named as a party in the ED's petition — strongly objected to the delay.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the ED, told Justice Suvra Ghosh’s bench that judicial protocol generally dictates that a High Court should defer to the Supreme Court when the same issue is being weighed at the highest level.
The standoff highlights the heightening tension between the central agency and the state administration, as the focus shifts to whether the Supreme Court will take up the matter or send it back to the local bench.
Also read: ‘Fort William commandant working for BJP’, alleges Mamata
Follow us
