Will the Mamata Government Suspend the DGP?
New Delhi : The ongoing confrontation between the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the West Bengal government has once again reached a critical point. In connection with the raid on political consultancy firm I-PAC, the ED on Wednesday filed a fresh petition in the Supreme Court, seeking the immediate suspension of West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar.
The ED has alleged that during the investigation related to I-PAC, the functioning of the central agency was obstructed and that the state police misused their authority to influence the probe. According to the agency, the role played by senior police officers has raised serious concerns about the fairness of the investigation and has put the rule of law under question.
In its petition, the ED has urged the Supreme Court to take a serious view of alleged interference in the investigation and to initiate strict action against the state’s top police officer. The agency argued that questions over the impartiality of an officer holding a constitutional position such as the DGP are, in themselves, a matter of grave concern.
The West Bengal government, however, has consistently described the ED’s actions as politically motivated. The state administration has maintained that central agencies are being used to target opposition parties and undermine the spirit of federalism.
The controversy is linked to a raid conducted in Kolkata on January 8, when ED teams searched the residence and office of I-PAC director Prateek Jain. The ED has claimed that during the search operation, DGP Rajeev Kumar and other senior officers interfered with the agency’s work and directly obstructed the investigation. The agency further alleged that senior police officials intervened during the raid at Jain’s residence in Kolkata.
In its petition, the ED has also questioned Rajeev Kumar’s conduct, recalling that when he was Kolkata Police Commissioner, he had once sat on a protest alongside Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a move the agency claims raises doubts about his neutrality.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear today the ED’s petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, in which it has accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of obstructing the search operation at I-PAC’s Kolkata office. The matter will be heard by a bench comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi.
Apart from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the ED has named the West Bengal government, DGP Rajeev Kumar, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma, and Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Kolkata) Priyabrata Roy as respondents in the case.
The petition also refers to an incident from last week, when ED officials were allegedly conducting a search at the I-PAC office in Kolkata in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the alleged coal scam. According to the central agency, Mamata Banerjee arrived at the spot along with senior Trinamool Congress leaders during the search and engaged in an argument with officers on duty. The ED has further alleged that during the operation, the Chief Minister removed certain files from the office, causing serious obstruction to the investigation.
With the matter now before the Supreme Court, all eyes are on the judiciary’s response, as its decision could have far-reaching implications for the functioning of investigative agencies and the dynamics of Centre–state relations.