The BJP on Wednesday said the Supreme Court’s notice to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly interfering in the ED raids at political consultancy firm I-PAC’s premises was a “legal slap” for the TMC supremo “who considers herself above the Constitution”.
The TMC, on the other hand, said the matter was not over yet. and it would present “more information on the politically motivated ED raids” to the courts.
“This is an extremely serious matter, in which major legal and constitutional questions are being raised… If central agencies are doing their work, can they be obstructed through party activities? Can central agencies like the ED and CBI be stopped by party goons or the TMC, or can they be stopped by the state police that are following the orders of Mamata Banerjee?.. This decision (of the Supreme Court) raises several serious questions. What kind of jungle raj is running in West Bengal? Has preventing constitutional institutions from doing their work now become the government’s policy?” BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said in Delhi.
“It is extremely concerning that officers at the DGP level of the West Bengal Police, in uniform, are attempting to stop the ED from performing its duties…This is not just a matter concerning one state, but a question linked to the rule of law and the dignity of democracy,” he added.
In Kolkata, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said it was “shameful” on the CM’s part to “steal devices like mobile phones” during the ED raids.
Accusing the TMC government in the state of misusing public money to shield corruption, Adhikari claimed the government has engaged “costly lawyers” to contest the matter. “This is a classic case of misuse of public money to shield corruption and gross misconduct by a person holding the office of chief minister,” Adhikari said.
Meanwhile, TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said the legal aspect of the issue was not over yet. “If the Supreme Court has ordered, it’s fine. The case is not over. We will fight again. But our question is why you raid only in West Bengal in the name of I-PAC. They have offices in Hyderabad and Chennai. You (ED) didn’t raid there. I-PAC has three more directors. You didn’t search their houses,” the TMC MP said.
“We also have some information about the raids. If we place those information in front of the High Court and the Supreme Court, they will not find any escape route. Why the ED filed a petition in the Supreme Court just 24 hours after it filed a petition in the High Court and asked the High Court to adjourn the hearing? If they misguide the Supreme Court, later all will be made public, and the people will decide,” Abhishek, who is considered number two in TMC, added.
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the ED action was politically motivated and timed with the approaching Assembly polls in West Bengal. “Our stand remains exactly the same. This case was registered in 2020. Five or six years have passed. What were they doing all these years? Were they asleep? Why (I-PAC) director Pratik Jain now? Because he is helping with our election campaign. He is a consultant involved in planning and structuring our election strategy. The party’s campaign-related information, planning, and data may be at his office or residence.”