I-PAC raids | 'ED seized nothing, Mamata Banerjee took away all data': Probe agency tells Calcutta HC

The ED's counsel said that when a matter is pending before the apex court, a high court should not hear it.

Kolkata: The ED on Wednesday told the Calcutta High Court that petitions filed by it and the TMC in connection with last week’s searches at the residence and office of political consultancy firm director Pratik Jain be adjourned as the agency has moved the Supreme Court on the issue.

Trinamool Congress’ counsel Menaka Guruswamy submitted that the party was only seeking protection of its data.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s lawyer Kalyan Banerjee objected to the Enforcement Directorate's plea for adjournment.

The CM has been made a party by the central probe agency in its petition before the high court.

Representing the ED, additional solicitor general SV Raju stated before the bench of Justice Suvra Ghosh that the agency seeks adjournment of the matters at the high court as it has filed a petition on the same issue before the Supreme Court.

Raju also said that nothing was seized by the ED from two premises on January 8. "Whatever was taken into possession by ED was taken away by CM Mamata Banerjee," he told the court.

He said that when a matter is pending before the apex court, a high court should not hear it.

Recording ED's submission in the matter, the high court disposed of TMC's petition.

The high court adjourned the central agency's petition on the ground that the ED has filed a special leave petition before the Supreme Court with prayers "which are almost identical with the present application before it."

(With PTI inputs)