I-PAC hearing will be live-streamed, says HC, bars crowd
Times of India | 14 January 2026
Kolkata: After courtroom chaos stalled the earlier proceedings on the ED-I-PAC case and Trinamool Congress's counter-petition, the Calcutta High Court, in an order on Tuesday, said the Jan 14 hearing will be live-streamed and none other than those pleading the cases will be allowed to be present.
The HC made it clear that only counsels representing the ED and TMC will be allowed to remain present at courtroom number 5 for "smooth functioning" during Wednesday's hearing. The matter will be "live-streamed" and anybody else wishing to participate in the hearing can do so virtually, the HC said.
The court said: "Entry may be regulated at court No. 05 while dealing with the court proceeding of the matters vide WPA No. 602 of 2026 with WPA No. 609 of 2026. Only the Ld. Senior Counsels, their assisting counsels and the Ld. AOR (advocate on record) on behalf of both the parties (i.e. the petitioner & the respondent) will be present at the time of hearing."
The decision came after the chaos that ensued during the last hearing on Friday. Justice Suvra Ghosh postponed the hearing due to "enormous disturbance and commotion in the courtroom".
"The matter is taken up for consideration. At this juncture, a huge number of learned advocates as well as other persons enter the courtroom and create enormous disturbance and commotion. Several requests made by the court to maintain the decorum and dignity of the court so that the matter can be taken up for consideration fell on deaf ears. The environment in the courtroom is not conducive to commence/continue with the hearing," Justice Ghosh had said.
The ED's plea sought a CBI probe against CM Mamata Banerjee for allegedly obstructing an ongoing investigation, as well as the return of documents and electronic material. TMC, on the other hand, sought directions to restrain the central agency from leaking any party-related information. Thereafter, ED moved the Supreme Court and the Bengal govt filed a caveat there.