Supreme Court Stays FIRs Against ED Officials in Bengal Raid Case

The Supreme Court has stayed FIRs registered by West Bengal police against Enforcement Directorate officials until the next hearing, following the ED's plea alleging obstruction during a raid at the I-PAC office in Kolkata. The ED accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and state police of interfering with their investigation, seizing evidence, and filing retaliatory FIRs. The court sought a response from the state within two weeks, asserting that agency probes cannot be hampered. While the ED sought suspension of top police officials and a CBI probe into the alleged obstruction, the state government and Trinamool Congress argued that the CM's presence was due to Z-security and the raid was a mala fide act targeting election-related material. The Supreme Court highlighted the gravity of alleged state machinery interference in central agency investigations and expressed dismay over disruptions in previous high court proceedings.