SC pulls up Mamata Banerjee for disrupting ED raid

April 22, 2026

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday strongly reprimanded West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for interfering in the ED raid at the home of I-PAC co-founder Pratik Jain.

The court said that the Chief Minister of any state cannot reach the spot during an investigation and that doing so could endanger democracy.

Court calls it an ‘extraordinary situation’

A bench of Justices PK Mishra and NV Anjaria described the incident as unprecedented and worrying.

The court said that even constitutional experts could not have imagined such a situation.

Hearing on demand for CBI investigation

The hearing is being held on a petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate seeking an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The court stated that this is not a routine matter, but that a decision must be made keeping in mind the current social and political circumstances.

Controversy stems from January incident

This case dates back to January 8, when Mamata Banerjee arrived at Pratik Jain’s house during the ED raid.

The ED alleges that some important documents and electronic equipment were removed during the raid.

Mamata denies the allegations

Mamata Banerjee denies all allegations, stating that the documents she seized were related to the Trinamool Congress, not the money laundering case.

She also accused central agencies of acting out of political vendetta.

The ED maintains that this action is part of its investigation into a 2020 money laundering and coal smuggling case involving businessman Anup Majee.

Meanwhile, I-PAC co-founder Vinesh Chandel was also recently arrested in this case.