‘Live-streamed, only counsels to be present’: Calcutta High Court’s restrictions on ED I-PAC raids hearing today

The Calcutta High Court will hear the petitions filed by the Enforcement Directorate and the Trinamool Congress on the raids conducted by the central agency at the house of IPAC chief Prateek Jain and the office of the political consultancy last Thursday.

Last Friday, when the Calcutta High Court was to hear the petitions of ED and the TMC, chaos and overcrowding in the courtroom of Justice Suvra Ghosh led to the matter being adjourned till January 14.

Keeping in mind the chaos and overcrowding last time, the Registrar General of the Calcutta High Court issued a notice stating that only the counsels in the case would be allowed in the courtroom, and the entire proceedings would be live-streamed.

“It is hereby notified for information of all concerned that, as per direction of Honourable the Acting Chief Justice, High Court at Calcutta, this Administrative Notice is issued for smooth functioning of the Court Proceedings while hearing the matters vide WPA No. 602 of 2026 with WPA No. 609 of 2026,” said the notice.

“The entry may be regulated at Court No. 05 while dealing with the Court proceeding of the matters vide WPA No. 602 of 2026 with WPA No. 609 of 2026. Only the Ld. Senior Counsels, their assisting Counsels and the Ld. A.O.R. on behalf of both the parties (i.e. the Petitioner & the Respondent) will be present at the time of hearing,” it said.

“The entire Court proceeding will be on ‘Live Streaming’, and the same will be recorded for future purposes.

If anybody (except the Petitioner & the Respondent) wants to participate in the Court proceeding of that particular matter, may join virtually.”

After its raids on January 8, ED moved the Calcutta High Court, stating that it faced hindrance during the investigation from the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the police, and that evidence, both physical and electronic, had been removed. The TMC also moved the court, alleging that the agency had taken the party’s confidential documents.

After the single bench of Justice Suvra Ghosh adjourned the matter, ED approached the acting chief justice, seeking an urgent bench for a hearing, but that appeal was not accepted.

Following this, ED approached the Supreme Court, where the agency filed two petitions, and the TMC moved a caveat. The matter is pending in the apex court.

Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata.... Read More