Key Highlights
- Bengali Pride faced humiliation for two consecutive days in the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court.
- The conduct of the Chief Minister and top police officials on the day of the ED raid at Pratik Jain’s residence and office drew strong criticism.
- The Calcutta High Court hearing was allegedly disrupted after people were summoned via WhatsApp, leading to chaos and a delay in proceedings.
- The Supreme Court compared this courtroom disorder to a political rally held at Jantar Mantar.
- The Apex Court issued Notices to the Chief Minister and the heads of Kolkata and West Bengal Police, a move seen as a serious blow to Bengali pride.
- The Supreme Court has issue stay order for All FIRs filed against the Enforcement Directorate (ED), effectively halting action against the central agency.
- The court has raised serious concern regarding the exercise of power by the state police over a central investigating agency will now be examined in depth.
- The fights between agencies of Central Government and State Government agencies just spreads rumors, nothing else.
- The next hearing is scheduled for 3 February.
- It’s still unknown for how long the Bengali Pride will keep on shattered by such theatrics.
ED vs Bengal: What You Need to Know
Bengali Pride Shaken as ED Takes Early Lead. Bengali pride and the image of nearly 10 crore Bengalis suffered a blow over the last two days. First, the ED vs Bengal battle reached the Calcutta High Court on January 14.
Then, on January 15, the matter moved to the Supreme Court. For now, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is ahead in both courts. As a result, using a football analogy familiar to football-loving Bengalis, Bengal is trailing 0–2 at halftime.
The Supreme Court has virtually lashed out at West Bengal Government due to its law and order situation.
Bengal Pride hurt in Kolkata High Court
On the first day of the Calcutta High Court hearing, January 9, the court had to halt proceedings due to chaos inside the courtroom. However, when the hearing resumed on January 14, it took place in an almost empty courtroom. Only the lawyers from both sides and the judges were present.
The Honorable judge only dismissed the plea of Trinamool Congress but adjourned it as the matter is in parallel hearing process under Supreme Court.
Given the gravity of the case and the tense situation, the Acting Chief Justice had to ensure security almost like a gatekeeper. Entry was restricted for others, and the hearing was live-streamed.
Frankly, this shows the harsh reality of the state. We live in a place where even a court hearing cannot proceed peacefully. Meanwhile, state minister and former lawyer Chandrima Bhattacharya was present inside the court room. She faces a serious allegation of inviting lawyers via WhatsApp to gather inside the courtroom.
As a result, the state government’s senior counsel, Kapil Sibal, had to pay the price for this episode in the Supreme Court on January 15. There, he tried to explain that the incident was merely a temporary emotional outburst. However, the court went further and compared the courtroom chaos to a political rally at Jantar Mantar.
Supreme Court’s Key Observations Explained
On January 15, the Supreme Court heard the case before a Division Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Vipul M. Pancholi. At the outset, the Bench made a strong observation. It said the incident was extremely serious and reflected a state of lawlessness.
Moreover, we must not forget one crucial point. This case is not just about I-PAC or Pratik Jain. Instead, the primary accused are the state government, the Chief Minister, the state police, and the bureaucracy. And ultimately, such a notorious episode affects 10 crore Bengalis as the consequences. Was there any use of such a theatrics?
Supreme Court Stay on FIRs in West Bengal
The ED’s primary demand was clear. It sought a stay on the FIRs registered in the state against its officers and on the ongoing investigations. The court granted this relief.
At the very end, Manu Singhvi requested a limited order. He asked the court to allow the investigation to continue, but with a direction that the state would not take any coercive action. However, the Honourable Judges did not accept this plea.
In effect, the Bench almost sealed the view that these FIRs were purely political and driven by vendetta. Past incidents clearly influenced the court’s thinking. During the CBI raid at Rajeev Kumar’s residence, the arrival of the Kolkata Police and the alleged detention of CBI officers at a police station sent a strongly negative signal.
There is an old saying: sins do not spare even the sinner’s father. That day, the police or the Chief Minister may have appeared to win. However, it created a shameful precedent, one whose consequences the state may face in every future case.
Impact on Mamata and State Officials
Deepest blow to Bengali pride
The deepest blow to Bengali pride came with the issuance of a notice against Mamata Banerjee. Earlier, the ED’s counsel Raju had tried to name Mamata Banerjee in the Calcutta High Court. However, Justice Shubra Ghosh did not place this on record.
The Supreme Court, however, did exactly that. It is hard to recall whether any other sitting Chief Minister of Bengal has ever faced such a notice. At the very least, this is deeply humiliating for Bengalis.
Ironically, the Trinamool Congress and Mamata Banerjee have been the loudest voices on Bengali identity and pride. Moreover, the notice was not limited to the Chief Minister. It was also issued against Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma and State DGP Rajeev Kumar.
CCTV Footage and Evidence at Risk
In addition, the court directed the state government to preserve all CCTV footage from the I-PAC office, Pratik Jain’s residence, and the surrounding areas on the day of the raid. However, it remains unclear whether the CCTV footage is still intact.
Notably, Rajeev Kumar has a background in the IT department. Moreover, the Kolkata Police and the state police undoubtedly have many IT experts. There is no reason to underestimate their intelligence or technical skills.
Just as no one can doubt the intelligence of Charles Sobhraj, even though he used it in the wrong direction and ended up behind bars.
Therefore, the safety of the CCTV footage now depends on how these IT experts choose to apply their expertise.
That said, the ED also possesses its own video evidence. Perhaps, that is the real cause of concern for the state.
Appeal for CBI Investigation
The ED’s request for a CBI investigation was not approved today. However, the court made it clear that it would consider the demand seriously. We must remember one key point.
Today’s hearing was only at the admission stage, meaning it was the first hearing. At this stage, courts usually decide whether a case is fit for detailed hearing. Yet, in this matter, the Bench spent a considerable amount of time. In fact, the hearing continued even after the lunch break.
However, the next date for Hearing is February 03, 2026.
How Lawlessness Threatens Bengali Pride
More importantly, the court accepted almost all of the ED’s pleas. The way Tushar Mehta and Raju sharply criticized the law and order situation in the state tilted the case heavily in one direction.
Since the state had filed a caveat, Kapil Sibal and Manu Singhvi got an opportunity to argue. However, they failed to add any substantial value. As a result, the lawyers representing the state government, the Trinamool Congress, and the police officers returned largely unsuccessful.
Rather, the court made its position absolutely clear and unambiguous. It stated that offenders cannot be allowed to hide behind the law-enforcement machinery of any particular state. If such matters remain undecided, the situation may turn far more dangerous and lawlessness may prevail.
Today, crores of Bengalis stand exposed before these remarks. Yet, the same Bengali leaders and leadership will continue to speak loudly about Bengali pride and self-respect.
They will keep stirring public emotions. And we, as a community that has almost lost its spine, will likely remain silent.
Bengali Pride: What This Means for 2026 Elections
However, 2026 will bring another election. That is the temple of democracy. Once upon a time, Bengalis conquered the world. Bengali revolutionaries sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom. At the very least, the present generation has a duty not to dishonour that legacy.
After all, we are their descendants. Sadly, Bengalis seem to have forgotten their own history and surrendered themselves to a strange state of inertia.
That society now needs a new awakening. But misfortune has its truth. Rammohan Roys and Vidyasagars are born only once.