Tensions between New Delhi’s money laundering watchdog and Kolkata’s law enforcers have reached fever pitch, prompting Supreme Court intervention in the blocked raid at political strategist I-Pac’s office. The ED contends that state apparatus actively scuttled its probe into high-profile financial misconduct.
The sequence began with ED’s dawn arrival at I-Pac’s high-tech hub, armed with orders to seize records on suspicious transactions linked to Trinamool’s inner circle. What followed was chaos: police formed human chains, arguments escalated, and central officers retreated empty-handed amid threats of arrest.
In a swift petition, ED approached Justices AS Oka and Augustine George Masih, decrying the episode as ‘unprecedented contempt for central mandates.’ They seek contempt proceedings and directives for unhindered future operations. The bench has summoned state replies, signaling serious deliberation.
At the heart lies I-Pac’s shadowy operations, credited with turning electoral tides through voter profiling and targeted mobilization. Allegations swirl of crores funneled via fake invoices for ‘strategy services,’ feeding probes into recruitment rackets plaguing Bengal’s urban local bodies.
This saga amplifies federal fault lines, where states invoke ‘cooperative federalism’ to shield allies. Legal precedents like the 2019 Madras HC order affirm ED’s supremacy in PMLA matters. With Lok Sabha polls looming, the verdict could neutralize state-level roadblocks, empowering sleuths nationwide.
Observers predict a balanced ruling mandating coordination sans veto powers, preserving investigative sanctity while respecting jurisdictions.