ED Has Hijacked Federalism, Only Supreme Court Can Stop It, Says Sibal

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Friday sharply criticized the Enforcement Directorate's actions, declaring that federalism in India is now at the mercy of the ED and urging the Supreme Court to intervene and curb the agency's overreach. His statements followed the ED's high-profile searches at the Kolkata offices of political consultancy firm I-PAC and the residence of its director Pratik Jain.

Sibal, in a post on X, highlighted the systematic targeting of opposition-ruled states and prominent leaders, describing the developments in West Bengal as deeply disturbing, especially with assembly elections approaching in March-April 2026. He asserted that only the apex court possesses the authority to rein in the ED and restore balance to federal principles.

The raids, conducted on Thursday across approximately 10 premises in Kolkata and Delhi as part of a money laundering investigation into an alleged coal pilferage scam, escalated into a major political confrontation. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made an unannounced visit to the raid sites, accusing the ED of attempting to seize sensitive TMC data, including election-related documents.

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The ED countered by alleging that Banerjee obstructed the probe, claiming she and state police personnel removed crucial evidence from both Jain's residence and the I-PAC office. The agency maintains that the operations were strictly evidence-based and unrelated to political motives.

The episode has rapidly moved to the legal arena, with the ED approaching the Calcutta High Court over alleged interference, while I-PAC has challenged the legality of the searches. Amid intensifying pre-election tensions, the incident underscores growing concerns over the use of central agencies in opposition states.

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