Mamata Banerjee files police complaint against the ED; investigation agency moves the High Court in response.

In an unprecedented development, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has filed complaints against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at two police stations. The complaints were lodged at the Electronics Complex Police Station and Shakespeare Sarani Police Station in connection with the ED’s search operations conducted yesterday at the residence and office of I-PAC chief Prashant Jain. In addition, the Kolkata Police has also registered a separate complaint at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station.

Meanwhile, in response to these developments, the ED has approached the Calcutta High Court. The investigating agency alleged that its probe was obstructed due to the Chief Minister’s intervention during the search operations at Prashant Jain’s residence and office. Appearing before Justice Shubra Ghosh’s bench, ED counsel Dheeraj Trivedi submitted that the Chief Minister’s sudden presence and interference created difficulties in carrying out the searches, while the police remained passive at the time. He sought urgent intervention from the court. Justice Ghosh admitted the matter and granted permission for a hearing.

Following the incident, I-PAC has also approached the court. Counsel for the organisation, Sabyasachi Banerjee and Ayan Bhattacharyya, submitted that the ED was attempting to seize all their documents and files. They have requested an immediate stay on the search operations.

Sources indicated that hearings on the petitions filed by both the ED and I-PAC may take place later this afternoon. The incident has triggered intense political and administrative reactions.