Raid by ED-Mamata Banerjee’s presence was not a “happy situation

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s presence at the I-PAC offices during the raid by the Enforcement Directorate was not a “happy situation”, the Supreme Court said today, questioning if the Central agency can be left without a remedy in such “unusual” events. “What if tomorrow some other Chief Minister barges into such a raid? Can the ED be left without remedy?” said the bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and NV Anjaria, which was hearing a petition by the Enforcement Directorate.

The agency, which has knocked at the doors of the top court, has called Banerjee’s move — allegedly walking out with a laptop, phone and multiple documents from the house of Pratik Jain, the chief of election consultant I-PAC and their offices — a “gross abuse of power”. It has also demanded that a police case be filed against the Chief Minister and officials who had accompanied her. (UPDATED ON 18TH MARCH 2026)