ED moves Supreme Court to suspend Bengal DGP ahead of I-PAC hearing

• What happened: The Enforcement Directorate has asked the Supreme Court to suspend West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar ahead of a key hearing on alleged interference during I-PAC searches.
• Why it matters now: The request comes just before the court examines claims that state authorities tried to obstruct a federal search linked to a coal money laundering case.
• What changes for people: The standoff raises fresh questions over center-state coordination, police neutrality and the handling of major corruption probes.
• Who is affected: The case involves the West Bengal government, top police officers, I-PAC, and federal agencies.

The Enforcement Directorate has filed a fresh plea in the Supreme Court of India seeking the suspension of West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar ahead of Tuesday’s scheduled hearing on alleged disruption of the agency’s search operations at the I-PAC Kolkata office.

The petition is the latest flashpoint in a widening tussle between the state administration and the central agency, with both sides accusing each other of obstruction and misuse of power.

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ED flags alleged interference during Kolkata searches

The dispute stems from January 8, when ED officers raided premises linked to I-PAC director Pratik Jain in Kolkata as part of a money laundering investigation tied to a coal scam.
According to the agency, senior state police officials interfered at multiple points, hindering searches and altering the situation on ground.

In its fresh plea, the ED also pointed to Rajeev Kumar’s past conduct, noting that he had previously sat on a dharna with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while serving as Kolkata Police Commissioner.

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Supreme Court to examine obstruction claims

The Supreme Court is set to hear the ED’s petition filed under Article 32, in which the agency has accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of obstructing a lawful search, confronting ED officers and removing material from the I-PAC office.

The plea names the West Bengal government, Rajeev Kumar, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma and South Kolkata Deputy Commissioner Priyabatra Roy as respondents. A bench led by Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Vipul M Pancholi will take up the matter.

The ED says the environment created at the search site was intimidating, undermining its ability to carry out statutory duties independently. The agency claims that state officials have shown repeated non-cooperation, prompting requests for a CBI inquiry to ensure neutrality.

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State vs Centre: escalating institutional confrontation

After the January 8 incident, West Bengal Police registered an FIR against ED personnel, escalating tensions between the state and the Union government.

The ED had earlier moved the Calcutta High Court seeking protection for its officers. On January 14, the High Court disposed of a related petition by the Trinamool Congress after the ED confirmed it had not seized documents from the I-PAC office or from Pratik Jain on the day of the search.

I-PAC, a major political consultancy known for developing poll strategies for the Trinamool Congress, has been working on planning for the West Bengal Assembly elections due later this year.

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Financial trail under scrutiny

Investigators allege that nearly 10 crore rupees in proceeds of crime were routed to I-PAC via hawala channels, including payments linked to poll work in Goa in 2022. The ED maintains that the financial trail points to broader irregularities tied to the coal mining proceeds case.

Economists and legal experts say the tussle highlights broader concerns around federal investigative powers, state policing autonomy and the conduct of elections, especially in high-stakes political seasons