- 12 hours ago
On this edition of NewsTrack, Maria Shakeel reports on the Supreme Court's significant intervention in the ongoing conflict between the West Bengal government and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The top court has stayed three FIRs filed by the Kolkata Police against ED officials following searches at the premises of political consultancy IPAC. Maria Shakeel notes that the court also issued a notice to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government regarding the ED's request to transfer the investigation to the CBI. During the programme, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar describes the order as a 'supreme slap' to the state government, alleging a breakdown of constitutional machinery. Conversely, TMC representatives argue the ED's actions constitute 'pre-poll interference' aimed at disrupting election strategies. The Supreme Court emphasized that while central agencies must not interfere with election work, 'serious offences cannot be shielded from investigation' by state agencies or political activities. The report explores the intensifying political battle in West Bengal ahead of the upcoming elections.
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00:00Supreme setback for Didi in war against ED
00:10Supreme Court stays FIR against ED issues notice to TMC
00:19BJP welcomes Supreme Court order slams Mamata government
00:26It is absolute lawlessness, total absence of law and error, total breakdown of constitutional machinery
00:34But TMC claims pre-poll interference
00:43Election is forthcoming, then the interference by the ED to the political party's affairs is also an important issue
00:56High voltage face-off ahead of Bengal battle
00:59Mamata versus Enforcement Directorate
01:07That is our top focus on India today
01:10Good evening, you are watching NewsTrack with me, Maria Shakil
01:16There has been a supreme setback for Mamata Banerjee in a showdown against the Enforcement Directorate
01:23The Supreme Court has put a temporary break on the FIRs filed against the ED
01:29All three FIRs of the Kolkata police have been stayed till February 3rd
01:34Which is when the next hearing is going to take place
01:38The Supreme Court has also issued a notice to the TMC government
01:42Asking for a response within two weeks on the ED's plea
01:46To hand over the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation, that is the CBI
01:51In the heated exchange in the court between the two sides
01:55The ED accused Mamata Banerjee of committing an offence amounting to theft
02:01And claimed that ruckus at the high court hearing of the case was planned by the TMC's legal cell
02:07India today has also accessed the chat cited by the Election Commission
02:13Where the TMC's legal team circulated a message for assembling at the Calcutta High Court on January 9th
02:22When the matter was to be heard
02:24Mamata Banerjee's government's, in fact her lawyers, team of lawyers, hit back
02:30Rejecting claims of ruckus and accused the ED of acting with malafied intent
02:35While making it clear that the central agencies cannot interfere with election work
02:40Also underlined that serious offences cannot be shielded from investigation
02:46The BJP, meanwhile, has welcomed the SE's order
02:50Accusing the TMC of defying the federal structure
02:53And causing a breakdown of the constitutional machinery
02:56As the political slugfest intensifies, the battle for Bengal is getting bitter
03:01First of this report, and then I bring in Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar
03:06Who is currently and presently is in Bengal
03:10He will be joining me shortly
03:11It is a supreme setback for Mamata Sarkar in her fight with Enforcement Directorate
03:26The Supreme Court has stayed all three FIRs filed by West Bengal Police against ED officers
03:33Over the IPAC searches
03:34The court has also issued a notice to the TMC government
03:38Asking for a response within two weeks on the ED's plea to hand over probe to the CBI
03:43This after the central agency alleged its probe was obstructed by TMC and West Bengal State Police
03:50It also claimed that EMC legal self-planned ruckus during Etsy hearing, citing WhatsApp chats
04:00The Supreme Court says this raises serious questions of interference
04:05The bench also said it was deeply disturbed by the disruption in the Calcutta High Court
04:10Asking whether the court had been turned into a protest site
04:14BJP welcomed the court decision, calling Mamata the agent of anarchy
04:19Alleging Jungle Raj in Bengal
04:21This is not a bad thing
04:23The legal sale of the Trinamool Congress is made by Mamata Banerjee
04:28It sends a WhatsApp message and says that everyone will get to the High Court
04:34Mamata Banerjee is the result of the jungle of the rule of the Rajakta
04:39And how does the jungle of the Rajakta go out?
04:41It is absolutely like Mamata Raj
04:44Senior Advocates Kapil Sybil and Abhishek Singh V argued the ED acted with malified intent,
04:52saying the agency knew IPAC housed confidential election material.
04:56Evidence which has been taken by the in the statement is 21st February 2024.
05:04There after he was stripping altogether.
05:08Now when the election is forthcoming, then he was jumping upon, ED is jumping upon.
05:13That is also the question.
05:15The war of words is intensifying.
05:17For now the Supreme Court has drawn a clear line.
05:20Party politics cannot obstruct investigations.
05:24In a significant turn in the ongoing ED versus TMC controversy, the Supreme Court has now
05:30stepped in with a one of its kind order.
05:32The top court has decided to deal with what it called a serious issue, investigation by
05:37central agencies and interference by state agencies.
05:41The court has made it clear that while no central agency has the right to interfere in election
05:46related work, crucial question is, if a central agency wants to investigate a serious offence
05:52in a state in a bona fide manner, can the shield of political party activity or state agencies
05:59be used to obstruct them.
06:01But with elections approaching, the battle for Bengal looks set to only bitter in the days
06:06going forward.
06:08And joining me now is Sukanta Majumdar, Union Minister and a Member of Parliament from Balurgaard.
06:27He is, in fact, touring Bengal.
06:30So, Mr. Majumdar, I really appreciate your time.
06:33What will be seen, you know, as a major setback for Mamata Banerjee's government in West Bengal?
06:40The Supreme Court today has paused the FIRs, which were registered against the officers of the ED in
06:46connection with the searches which happened against the political consultancy IPAC.
06:50How do you look at the Supreme Court's order?
06:55See, you know, it's a supreme slap, I would like to call.
06:59From the beginning, the councils, those who are trying to, you know, push back the case to the Kolkata High Court.
07:08They are trying their level-based and, you know, the TMC as well as the government of West Bengal, they both hired two prominent lawyers of the Supreme Court,
07:18Kanu Shingviji.
07:20Kanu Shingviji was representing Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Manu Shingviji was representing the government of West Bengal.
07:31But in spite of that, actually, it's a win for the ED because, as you mentioned,
07:37Mariyanji, as the board has given the verdict to stop the investigation on the FIR, those have been registered against the ED officials.
07:50Because the incident that happened on that day in front of Mamata Banerjee, and actually Mamata Banerjee was the creator of that incident,
08:00it is really a challenge to, I feel that it is really a challenge towards the sovereignty of our country, this great democracy.
08:10And it is a hit on the federal structure of this country. And so, we welcome the verdict of the Honourable Supreme Court.
08:18I'm looking at what Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said here. He, in fact, accused Bengal Chief Minister of theft that she took evidence from the residence of IPAC co-founder Prateek Jain.
08:33And that she said that this will, this, you know, kind of act, in fact, that's what Tushar Mehta said, this kind of act will encourage state police officers to aid and abet such cases.
08:48Yes, really, it's a unique incident that happened on that day. I don't know whether in the history of this democracy, of this country, we have any other instance or not.
09:03But it is really, it is a, you know, act of, I feel that it's an act of theft. And not only that, it has been mentioned by the, in the, in higher, sorry, in High Court, Polkata High Court, as well as the Supreme Court also,
09:20that the ED officers, they were threatened by the police officials, especially the DG, Rajiv Kumar, especially it was mentioned in the Polkata High Court by the ED Council of London Council of ED.
09:37And really, it's a unique incident. And, and I feel it will create a unique problem for the federal structure and the constitution of this country. And I feel that it is a challenge.
09:52And, and the act of TMC, chief minister, because on one side, Mamata Banerjee is claiming she was representing the TMC, but DGP Polish, as well as the chief secretary of the state, Nandini Chakravarti, both were present in, with the Mamata Banerjee in that, you know, trespass that made by, that was made by the Mamata Banerjee and whole team.
10:19And according to the ED Council, who mentioned, who was present in the Polkata High Court yesterday, they mentioned that all the ED officials, they were threatened by the Polish officials and they have snatched all the documents and from that investigation area.
10:39And it is a, I think it is an act of crime and all these officials along with the Mamata Banerjee should be taken under the course of law.
10:48Of course, you know, the opposition, though, will continue to maintain that this is misuse of central agencies.
10:55That here, the reason why IPAC co-founder Pratik Jain was targeted was that he has been working, the IPAC has been working with the TMC for so long.
11:06They are aware of the entire election strategy.
11:08They are involved in the election strategy, in the elections which will be held in a few months from now.
11:13IPAC is a private entity and they worked, you know, for the TMC.
11:23They worked for that RJD in Bihar also.
11:28Even if I am not wrong, then they have worked also for that Congress in Tilingan also.
11:36So, yes, they worked for Congress in Punjab as well, when Mr. Prasham Tishore was the head.
11:43Yes, please, go ahead.
11:44Yes, so it is a totally a private entity and a profitable venture.
11:49And a profitable venture whenever you are assisting any political party, it is not a crime or whatever you want to do, you can do.
11:57But the thing is that the investigation was done by the ED and it was found that some kind of role is there, some kind of involvement of this entity was there when TMC sought the Goa election.
12:18And what kind of involvement?
12:19That is related to the money transfer.
12:22So, the money transfer and what was the source of that money?
12:28That source of that money was the coal scam.
12:32And, you know, the investigation is going on for so many years regarding this coal scam.
12:38So, whatever our opposition is saying, the opposition is saying that it is not justified and they are trying to cover up the whole thing.
12:46You can hire any company for your election venture, but you cannot use that private company or that entity in money transferring or channelizing your scam money.
13:04It is not acceptable in this country.
13:06Since you spoke about the coal scam, I am looking at what Mr. Sibbles told the Supreme Court today, that the last development in the coal scam case took place in February of 2024.
13:24Of course, he was appearing on behalf of Mamata Banerjee.
13:26He went on to ask a question that is there on perhaps everybody's mind about the timing.
13:31What is the ED doing about it and doing about this case in 2026 then?
13:39So, is it, you know, is it a justified question that ED will do every year whether ED has to prove themselves by doing some kind of inquiry everywhere?
13:54So, inquiry you cannot specify any specific time for any kind of inquiry or rate.
14:01Inquiry is a, even the, you know, ED has to find out the money trail in case of scam, this kind of scam.
14:09So, finding a money trail is not a matter of joke.
14:14The knowledgeable person, they know it may take several years.
14:18So, and they are claiming that it is done.
14:20It was, it has been done just before election.
14:23So, every year you have election in this state.
14:27Even in 24, we have, we had the election.
14:31So, even in some, in case of some, you know, municipality and corporation, the election is due.
14:38That could have been arranged in 2025.
14:41So, you know, that's why we are advocating for the one nation, one election.
14:48But, okay, let, we don't have the time to discuss that.
14:52But the thing is that you cannot, you know, justify this.
14:56That this year, election is, election year is, this year is the election year.
15:01So, you cannot investigate anything.
15:03It is not justified.
15:05And if you have hired any company for the election management, it does not mean that, that company should be given any kind of immunity against any kind of corruption.
15:18Okay.
15:18My last question to you, and this is regards the campaigning of the BJP.
15:24You are in Bengal at present, traveling across the state.
15:28What is the BJP campaign going to be like after this order?
15:38You know, it's a matter between ED and the government of West Bengal and another party is the TMC.
15:47But the thing is that BJP will, you know, aware of the public that our chief minister is the single chief minister, only chief minister, sorry, only chief minister of the country who has done this kind of heinous act of snatching the documents and the proof from the investigating agency.
16:13And, really, it is shameful for the whole Bengali community and Bengal.
16:20All right, Sukanda Majumdar, thank you for joining us and sharing your views.
16:26We have Tawseef Ahmed, advocate and political analyst joining us.
16:31Gargi Nandi Roy is also a political analyst.
16:34Tawseef, looking at what will be seen as a big setback for Mahmata Banerjee, and yes, the timing is something that has been asked repeatedly by the TMC and other opposition leaders.
16:49The ED is not responsible for it, is what the Supreme Court has said.
16:52No, see, the Supreme Court has not given any clean sheet to ED.
16:58Rather, the ED will have to, you know, explain and satisfy the court on the question that while under the law, ED is required to notify the state police before conducting any rate or search.
17:14In this case, on 8th of January, the ED started the raid at 6.45 a.m., but the intimation email was sent at 11.30 a.m., almost, you know, five or six hours later.
17:27So, the allegation of Malefide on ED, coupled with the fact that they have been sitting on this case from last two years, two years ago, the last statement was recorded, DFI was launched six years ago, the scam is allegedly from 10 years old.
17:49Therefore, there are larger questions which emerge and if not answered shall lead to lawlessness.
17:55If central agencies are working bona fide to probe a serious offense, a question arises, can they be obstructed by party activities?
18:08That's what the Supreme Court has said today.
18:10And the Supreme Court also took cognizance of the fact that the party chairman, Tindamul party chairman, Mamata Banerjee, has a right to the confidential party documents that is lying with the IPAC office or the residence of Mr. Jain.
18:31And ED has no business to take a seizure of the election-related documents or political documents just before the election.
18:44So, the right of a political party to the confidential documents related to, yes.
18:51So, therefore, there's a balance.
18:52The question has to be, you know, weighed on the weighing scale.
18:57The verdict is all not out yet.
19:00Gargi Nandir, you know, this is the way the Supreme Court order is going to be read by the political parties.
19:08Of course, you heard Sukanta Majumdar of the BJP.
19:12He saw this as a supreme slap.
19:14Here is Tawseef who has his leanings clear.
19:18He is seeing it otherwise.
19:20Gargi, as a political analyst, what about you?
19:23Thank you, Maria.
19:26Thank you for inviting.
19:27You know, Maria, the country by now knows that there is no rule of law in West Bengal.
19:32But what we saw that day, it crossed all the limits.
19:36She presently crossed the line between governance and intimidation.
19:41So, we know that she has been a fascist ruler.
19:43But what we saw that day was robbery in broad daylight by the fascist Didi Amin of West Bengal.
19:50Now, having said that, now Tawseef has been saying, why so many years old case now?
19:56I will tell you why, Maria.
19:58Because there are other raids also happening simultaneously.
20:03In October 2025, ED raided a businessman linked to the coal scam, Krishno Koyal.
20:09From there, they got the file which linked that scam to IPAC.
20:14Now, also, Norendra Kharkar and Nirod Mondol do another business where they are being integrated.
20:20So, that's why, that's how ED got those links to IPAC.
20:24So, when they will get the link, they will come now.
20:26And even Shubhendo Odhikari said, how, you know, a contractor, there was a Joel G1 project for which center gave 8,000 crore to the state.
20:36So, there was one contractor who got 178 crore, he had to give 16 crore to IPAC, to Kagdip Access Bank, ask him to deny whatever I'm saying and taking the name of the businessman.
20:49So, that's why now ED went and why the ED did not inform the police force.
20:53Maria, we all have seen how police force in West Bengal have been reduced to personal escorts of the TMC leaders.
21:03So, do you think if police were informed beforehand, ED could not have reached Pratikjan's house, they would have been arrested or they would have removed everything before the ED would have reached.
21:13That's why in a state like West Bengal, the ED could not have informed the police.
21:19Because if they would have done so, they would not have reached Pratikjan's office or residence.
21:23That's for clear.
21:24You know, but the fact is that the election data is confidential.
21:30If Mamata Banuji had concerns with regards to the election data, it's confidential for any political party.
21:38If it was confidential, if it was related to, you know, all political data, she would have gone to the court.
21:47That was not the way, obviously, to snatch, to raid an existing ED raid.
21:51Have you ever seen in your lifetime of a journalist, you are a very veteran, senior, respected journalist, in your entire journalistic career.
22:00Maria, can you please remember that you have seen anything like this?
22:04I don't think you have.
22:05And the law is same for every citizen in this country.
22:09Point taken.
22:09You would have done that or I would have done what she did.
22:12Point taken, Gargi.
22:13You would have been arrested.
22:13Of course, it hasn't been seen.
22:16Anything similar to that has not been seen.
22:19But then, you know, as we know that Mamata Banuji reacts differently.
22:23And she perhaps took the, you know, took this move.
22:28I mean, she's a political leader who's known to be a street fighter.
22:34And that is the reason why the BJP is finding it tough in Bengal at the moment.
22:37So, thank you so much for joining us.
22:39That's why BJP must have the slogan.
22:40Maria, you asked.
22:41Shukam could not give you the slogan.
22:42Let me give you the slogan for Bengal.
22:45Okay, what does that mean?
22:53That means, the more you attack Bengal, again, Bengal will win.
23:09All right.
23:10I'm giving you the slogan.
23:14Okay.
23:14So, we have heard two slogans already.
23:16Gargi and Tawseer, thank you for joining us.
23:19That's all from me on this edition of NewsTrack.
23:21I'll be seeing you tomorrow.
23:22Thanks so much for watching.
23:23I'll be seeing you tomorrow.
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