Tensions between Delhi and Kolkata hit fever pitch with ED’s Supreme Court filing demanding DGP Rajeev Kumar’s head. At the heart: botched raids on I-PAC, TMC’s secretive election war room accused of laundering poll funds.
The probe’s origins trace to discrepancies in I-PAC’s billing—₹200 crore in ‘strategy services’ with dubious trails to UAE hawala networks. ED teams, armed with warrants, faced a rude shock: state commandos blocking entries, mobiles confiscated, and hours wasted in custody drama.
The 50-page plea meticulously documents DGP Kumar’s fingerprints—from rapid response teams to leaked raid intel. It invokes past SC rebukes, including his exclusion from Rose Valley cases, to build an ironclad case for his unsuitability.
Broader implications ripple out. This pits Schedule 7’s concurrent powers against cooperative federalism ideals. Legal luminaries debate: Does state police protection equate to evidence tampering?
TMC’s riposte is fierce, labeling ED a ‘BJP hit squad’ targeting Banerjee’s 2026 re-election machinery. Allies in regional parties echo concerns over agency overreach.
Market watchers note I-PAC’s investors, including Silicon Valley VCs, distancing themselves amid the storm. As SC deliberates, Bengal’s security apparatus hangs in balance, promising fireworks in India’s federal tinderbox.