Enforcement Directorate Tuesday alleged before the Delhi High Court that West Bengal Police was acting at the behest of TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, who “enjoys clout” in the State government, to derail the probe into an alleged coal pilferage scam.
The submission was made by the probe agency in its petition seeking a direction to quash two notices issued against its officers pursuant to an FIR lodged by Banerjee.
The High Court said it will hear the ED's challenge on September 21.
ED, in its plea, contended that the notices are patently illegal, malafide and a “counter blast” to the investigation in the case.
“In order to pressurize the petitioner Investigating Officers (IO), investigating the case related to illegal coal mining, Abhishek Banerjee lodged an FIR on April 5, 2021, against a News Channel and in furtherance of the same, notices have been issued to the IOs investigating the case of illegal coal mining by the West Bengal Police,” the agency said.
The ED said the FIR was registered with “a malafide intention to derail the investigation under PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act).”
(With PTI inputs)
