THE Enforcement Directorate has alleged ‘gross abuse of power’ by the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the State machinery by ‘illegally barging’ into raids at the I-PAC office and the premises of its director in connection with an alleged coal pilferage scam. The agency rejected the West Bengal Government’s submission that Banerjee and the police had intervened to prevent ‘armed persons impersonating officials of Central agencies’ from conducting an unauthorised search. The ED said that its officials had duly displayed their ID cards during the January 8 raid and search authorisation to the police officers.

 

“The bare perusal of the facts would reveal gross abuse of power by the State machinery of the State of West Bengal. Senior officials of the State Police have colluded and obstructed the discharge of functions by officials of the ED under the PMLA, in the private interests of Mamta Banerjee the Chief Minister of the State of West Bengal,” the ED submitted in its rejoinder (reply) in the top court. Rejecting the State Government’s claim that the case relates to federal relations and cannot be entertained, the Enforcement Directorate said it is seeking an FIR against the ‘blatant abuse of power’ by State functionaries and commission of offences by them.