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I-PAC raid row: SC defers hearing on ED’s plea claiming interference by Mamata Banerjee

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New Delhi, Feb 10: The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned to February 18 the hearing on a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleging interference by the West Bengal government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the Central agency’s recent search operations at the office of political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) and the residence of its co-founder Pratik Jain in Kolkata.

The Bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Sandeep Mehta deferred the matter following a request for adjournment due to the ill health of senior advocate Kapil Sibal.

During the brief hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, informed the apex court that he had been apprised about Sibal’s inability to appear. “I can’t oppose on this ground. If it can be kept on 18th February,” the Centre’s second-highest law officer submitted.

Acceding to the request, the Justice Mishra-led Bench posted the matter for further hearing on February 18.

The ED has approached the top court seeking directions for the registration of FIRs against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the state Director General of Police (DGP), and the Kolkata Police Commissioner, alleging obstruction of lawful duties during the federal agency’s simultaneous search operations.

In her counter affidavit, Chief Minister Banerjee has denied all allegations of interference and obstruction, asserting that her limited presence at the premises was solely to retrieve confidential and proprietary data belonging to her party, the Trinamool Congress (AITC).

According to the affidavit, Banerjee visited Pratik Jain’s residence at Loudon Street and I-PAC’s office in Bidhannagar on January 8, after receiving information that sensitive political data of the Trinamool was being accessed during the searches.

She maintained that the data was “vitally linked to the AITC’s strategy for the upcoming Legislative Assembly election”.

The affidavit stated that when she reached the premises, she “politely requested the officials of the Enforcement Directorate to be allowed to retrieve the party’s data and the devices they were stored in and files containing prints of the same”.

It further claimed that “the officers of the Enforcement Directorate present there at that time did not object to this request and permitted her to retrieve some of these devices and physical files”.

“After she had done so, the Answering Respondent (CM Banerjee) left the premises so as not to inconvenience the officials of the Enforcement Directorate in any way,” the counter affidavit said, adding that the ED’s own panchnamas record that the searches continued thereafter and were conducted “peacefully and in an orderly manner”.

CM Banerjee has also argued that neither the Trinamool nor its officials are accused in the alleged coal scam, and therefore, the ED could not claim any right over the party’s proprietary data.

The counter affidavit has further accused the ED of acting with mala fide intent, alleging that the searches were carried out in the run-up to the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections and after a prolonged period of inaction.

It has questioned the timing of the operations, claiming they coincided with I-PAC possessing “critical documents”, including a proposed list of candidates for the upcoming polls.

Alleging violations of statutory safeguards under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the affidavit has also pointed out that the ED failed to produce any audio or video recording of the searches.

This, it claimed, raises a “strong presumption” that the searches were clandestine and aimed at accessing confidential political data.

Earlier, on January 15, the Supreme Court had stayed the FIRs registered by the West Bengal Police against ED officials in connection with the searches and had also directed preservation of CCTV footage and other digital storage devices containing recordings of the searched premises as well as the surrounding areas.

Crime

Another Class 12 student found dead in Delhi; suicide suspected

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Just days after a Class 12 student died after allegedly immolating herself in East Delhi, another student died by suspected suicide at her residence in Delhi’s Bharat Nagar area, police said on Tuesday.

The body of the Class 12 student was found at her home with a scarf tied around her neck, under the Bharat Nagar police station area. According to the investigators, a preliminary probe suggests it is a case of suicide.

The Bharat Nagar police have taken custody of the body and initiated an investigation into the matter.

Police said that some chat messages have surfaced during the initial probe, indicating that the girl had been under distress.

However, the case is being investigated from all possible angles.

The incident comes days after a Class 12 student died after allegedly pouring an inflammable substance on herself and setting herself on fire at Sarvodaya Bal/Balika Vidyalaya in East Delhi’s Krishna Nagar area.

The recovery of the student’s charred body at Sarvodaya Bal/Balika Vidyalaya triggered panic among teachers and students on the school premises, prompting the authorities to initiate an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.

Officials said certain suspicious items were reportedly found in the student’s school bag. However, the nature of these items had not been officially confirmed at the time of filing the report.

According to officials, a Police Control Room (PCR) call reporting a fire incident was received from the school located in the Krishna Nagar area of Delhi’s Shahdara district.

“Upon receipt of the information, police staff from PS Krishna Nagar promptly reached the spot, where an approximately 18-year-old female student of Class 12th was found in a burnt condition behind the school guard room,” officials said.

They further stated that some materials were recovered during the initial proceedings at the scene and from the deceased student’s school bag. These items are being examined as part of the investigation.

The police said a Crime Team of the Delhi Police was called to the school to inspect the scene, examine the circumstances and collect relevant evidence that could help establish the sequence of events leading to the incident.

“The circumstances leading to the incident are being examined, and further enquiry is in progress,” the police said.

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Crime

Mumbai Police invokes MCOCA against all accused in Tiger Shroff firing case

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The Mumbai Police on Tuesday invoked stringent sections of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against all the accused arrested in connection with the firing incident involving Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff.

An official statement said that provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), 1999 have been invoked in DCB CID CR No. 143/26, registered on 19/10/26 u/Ss 109(1), 3(5) of BNS r/w sections 3, 25 of Arms Act; with permission of the competent authority under Section 23(1)(a) of the said Act dated 27/10/26.

Accordingly, Sections 3(1)(ii), 3(2) and 3(4) of MCOCA have been added to the case against all accused.

A case against the accused was registered by the Mumbai Police on October 19 under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act.

Subsequently, the approval to invoke the MCOCA was granted on October 27. Police said that the investigation in the case has been expedited considering the organised crime background linked to it.

Further investigation into the case is currently underway.

Earlier, the Mumbai Crime Branch established the alleged motive behind the firing incident involving Tiger Shroff, stating that the attack was carried out with the objectives of extorting money, establishing the gang’s dominance and creating fear among the public.

According to the Crime Branch’s investigation, the accused allegedly involved in the firing incident have links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

The police have alleged that the gang targeted Tiger Shroff as part of an attempt to strengthen its influence, intimidate people and secure financial gains through extortion.

The Mumbai Crime Branch has stated that the accused were allegedly operating as active members of an organised crime syndicate.

Investigators believe that the attack was not an isolated act but part of a planned criminal conspiracy intended to achieve financial benefits, assert the gang’s dominance and spread terror within society.

The accused carried out the attack using illegal and lethal weapons as part of a pre-planned conspiracy targeting the star.

The investigation has also revealed that the alleged conspiracy was coordinated through an inter-state network involving several locations, including Delhi and Mumbai.

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Crime

Maha Cyber arrests one in 4.97 lakh online share market investment fraud case

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One person has been arrested by Maharashtra Cyber in connection with a Rs 4.97 lakh online share market investment fraud case, officials said on Tuesday.

The complaint was filed by 42-year-old Kalyan, who was allegedly induced to invest money through an online trading application after being approached through a social media advertisement and a WhatsApp group operating under the name “Breakthrough Communication”, according to the officials.

As per the complaint, the fraud took place between August 25 and September 23, when Kalyan came across a social media advertisement referring to Susquehanna International Group and subsequently joined a WhatsApp group.

“A person using the name ‘Shikha Sharma’ allegedly contacted the complainant, provided investment-related guidance, and encouraged him to invest in the share market through a trading application. Believing the representations to be genuine, the complainant transferred a total amount of 4.97 lakh into eight different bank accounts,” officials said.

After suspecting financial fraud, Kalyan reported the matter through the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 on September 27.

Subsequently, an FIR was registered at the Nodal Cyber Police Station, Maharashtra Cyber, under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), read with Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology (IT) Act.

Officials said that following this, Maharashtra Cyber initiated an investigation to trace the financial transactions and identify the persons involved in facilitating the fraud.

“During the investigation, the police examined the banking trail and the movement of the defrauded funds across multiple accounts. The investigation revealed that the money had moved through various bank accounts,” they added.

According to officials, further inquiry indicated that the funds received in an account belonging to Nikhil Kamble were allegedly withdrawn in cash and handed over to the arrested accused, Mohammed Ali Kapadia, through an intermediary arrangement.

Mohammed Ali Kapadia (23) appeared before the investigating officer on October 26. During questioning, his alleged role in receiving and disposing of cash linked to the fraudulent transactions came under investigation. He was subsequently arrested in connection with the case, officials said.

They added that the investigation further indicates that the accused may have acted in coordination with other persons to facilitate the withdrawal of money generated through cyber fraud.

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