The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has approached the Supreme Court in the I-PAC case today. The ED has requested an urgent hearing. Meanwhile, the West Bengal government has filed a caveat in the apex Court seeking that no order should be passed without hearing it.

Earlier on Thursday, the ED conducted searches on the premises of consultancy firm I-PAC and its director Pratik Jain in Kolkata as part of a money laundering probe into an alleged multi-crore rupee coal pilferage scam. The agency alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee entered the raid sites and took away key evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices.

Meanwhile, Ms. Banerjee has accused the central agency of overreach. The ED yesterday approached the Calcutta High Court, seeking a CBI probe against the West Bengal Chief Minister. The High Court adjourned the hearing till January 14.