ED Seeks Suspension of Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar Ahead of Supreme Court I-PAC Hearing

The Enforcement Directorate has filed a fresh plea before the Supreme Court seeking the suspension of West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, intensifying its legal battle with the state government ahead of a crucial hearing related to recent searches conducted at the premises of political consultancy firm I-PAC.

The central agency has alleged that Rajeev Kumar and other senior police officials interfered with an ongoing Enforcement Directorate operation during searches carried out on January 8 at the Kolkata residence of I-PAC director Pratik Jain. The searches were part of a money laundering investigation connected to an alleged coal smuggling case.

In its latest plea, the ED has urged the apex court to take immediate action against the state’s top police officer, claiming that his conduct raises serious concerns about the independence and integrity of the investigation. The agency also cited past instances involving Rajeev Kumar, including his participation in a sit-in protest alongside West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during his tenure as Kolkata Police Commissioner, to argue that his neutrality could be compromised.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the ED’s petition later today. The plea, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, accuses the state administration of obstructing a lawful search operation at I-PAC’s Kolkata office. The matter will be heard by a bench headed by Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra along with Justice Vipul M Pancholi.

Apart from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the ED has named the West Bengal government, Rajeev Kumar, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma, and South Kolkata Deputy Commissioner Priyabatra Roy as respondents. The agency has alleged that the presence of senior state officials at the search site created an intimidating environment for ED officers and disrupted the agency’s statutory functioning.

According to the ED, the situation escalated when the Chief Minister arrived at the premises during the search along with senior leaders from the ruling Trinamool Congress. The agency has further claimed that certain files were removed from the office during the operation, which it says significantly hampered the investigation.

Following the incident, the West Bengal Police registered a First Information Report against ED officials, further deepening the standoff between the state government and the central agency. The ED has argued that these developments reflect a pattern of non-cooperation and obstruction, prompting it to seek the intervention of the Supreme Court.

In addition to seeking the suspension of the DGP, the ED has requested that the investigation be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation, contending that an independent central agency is necessary in light of the alleged interference by state authorities.

The controversy traces back to ED raids conducted at multiple locations in Kolkata linked to I-PAC. The agency has alleged that proceeds of crime amounting to nearly Rs 10 crore were routed to the consultancy firm through hawala channels. It has further claimed that I-PAC received payments from the Trinamool Congress for services rendered during the 2022 Goa Assembly elections.

The outcome of today’s Supreme Court hearing is expected to have significant implications for the ongoing probe and the broader centre–state confrontation surrounding the case.