The Supreme Court on Tuesday (March 24, 2026) asked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee what her “legal reaction” would be if, in a reversal of fortune, she were to come to power in the Centre in 2030-2031, and a Chief Minister from an opposing party “barged” in and disrupted a raid by a Central agency.
The query from the Bench headed by Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra came in reaction to submissions made by both Ms. Banerjee and the State of West Bengal that the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) cannot move the Supreme Court directly under Article 32 of the Constitution, “crying” violation of its fundamental rights.
The ED’s petition is an offshoot of its “interrupted” raid in January at the I-PAC co-founder Pratik Jain’s residence and offices. The Trinamool Congress, the poll-bound State’s ruling party, is reported to consult I-PAC on electoral and political strategy. The ED’s case is that Ms. Banerjee intruded on the raids and took away paper and digital evidence. The Central agency has sought a CBI probe against her and senior police officers.
“What would you do if the situation were reversed? In 2030-2031, you come to power in the Centre, and one of their Chief Ministers does something like this… What will be your reaction, your legal reaction?” Justice Mishra asked senior advocate Kalyan Bandhopadhyay, appearing for Ms. Banerjee along with senior advocate Kapil Sibal.
