The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday disposed of a petition filed by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) seeking protection of party data following Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids at I-PAC offices and director Pratik Jain’s residence. The matter lost its urgency after the ED confirmed that no material was seized during the searches conducted on January 8.

TMC had approached the court to prevent any data collected during the raids from being misused. Their legal team argued that sensitive party information could be compromised if proper safeguards were not ordered. However, once the ED stated on record that nothing had been taken, the TMC agreed to withdraw its plea.

The hearing saw sharp arguments from the ED, which challenged the “maintainability” of the petition. The agency’s lawyers highlighted that the affidavit supporting the plea was signed by an individual who was not present at the raids and had no firsthand knowledge of the events.

Also Read: Mamata Banerjee Files Complaint Against ED, CRPF Over Alleged Document Theft in I-PAC Raids

Describing the petition as “vague” and “incurable,” the ED further asserted that the TMC had no legal standing, as it was a third party unrelated to the actual premises searched. The agency dismissed concerns about potential data misuse as speculative and lacking any basis in fact.

With the ED’s categorical statement now on the court record, immediate concerns over potential data seizure have dissipated. Legal experts noted that the decision also underscores the need for petitions to be grounded in direct evidence and factual basis rather than conjecture.

While the court disposed of the plea, political tensions surrounding the I-PAC raids remain high. Observers suggest that the case may continue to influence narratives ahead of upcoming elections, even though the legal threat over seized data has been neutralized.

Also Read: J&K Lt Governor Dismisses Five Govt Employees Over Alleged Terror Links