Mamata Banerjee appeals to CJI for protection from ‘targeting’ by agencies amid ED row
Days after walking out with documents and a laptop during Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on political consultancy firm I-PAC, and subsequently being issued a notice by the Supreme Court, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday urged the Chief Justice of India to protect citizens from what she described as being “targeted” by central agencies.
Speaking at the inauguration of a new building of the Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench of the Calcutta High Court, the Trinamool Congress chairperson addressed Chief Justice Surya Kant and other judges present at the event, appealing for the protection of constitutional values.
“My request to my Chief Justice and all justices is to protect the Constitution, democracy, judiciary, history, geography, and the boundaries of the country from disaster,” Banerjee said.
Alleging deliberate attempts to defame individuals through investigative agencies, she added, “Please protect the people. I am not saying this for myself. Save the people, save the judiciary, the Constitution, and the country.”
Describing the judiciary as the ultimate guardian of the Constitution, Banerjee said there was “nobody superior” to the Chief Justice and also called for an end to what she termed the growing trend of media trials.
Her remarks came days after a Supreme Court bench of Justices Prashant Mishra and Vipul Pancholi observed that serious questions had arisen over her alleged interference during ED raids.
Hearing a petition filed by the ED, the court said unresolved issues could lead to “lawlessness” if central agencies conducting bona fide investigations were obstructed by political activities.
The bench issued notices to Banerjee, the West Bengal government, and Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar on the ED’s plea seeking a CBI probe into allegations that the raids were obstructed.
The ED raids on the I-PAC office and the residence of its co-founder Pratik Jain were conducted on January 9 in connection with an alleged coal scam. Banerjee accused the BJP of orchestrating the raids to gain access to the Trinamool Congress’s election strategy ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls.
A day after the raids, Banerjee led a six-kilometre protest march in Kolkata, asserting that she had done nothing wrong and alleging that agencies such as the ED and CBI were being misused for political purposes.
“If someone tries to kill me politically, don’t I have the right to defend myself?” she said, accusing the BJP of capturing institutions and attempting to replicate that strategy in Bengal.
Following the Supreme Court’s observations, the BJP accused the Trinamool Congress government of interfering in investigations and presiding over a breakdown of law and order in the state.
BJP leader Sanjay Sarawagi said the court’s remarks exposed the “chaotic situation” in West Bengal, alleging direct interference by the Chief Minister in the I-PAC probe.
As the legal and political confrontation intensifies, the issue has emerged as a flashpoint ahead of the crucial Assembly elections in the state.
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