Supreme Court of India NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday said it was “disturbed” about commotion that occurred at Calcutta high court during hearing on disruption at Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on Trinamool-linked political consultancy I-PAC.Aftershocks of the showdown between ED and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee over raids on I-PAC jolted Calcutta high court last week, prompting Justice Suvra Ghosh to postpone hearing petitions on grounds of “enormous disturbance and commotion” in the courtroom.”We are very much disturbed with incidents in Calcutta HC,” the Supreme Court said during the hearing on Thursday.During the hearing, the ED told the Supreme Court that the West Bengal government’s “interference and obstruction”, including by chief minister Mamata Banerjee, in its probe and search operation at the I-PAC office and its chief’s residence reflects a very shocking pattern.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, told a bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Vipul Pancholi that in the past also, whenever statutory authorities exercised statutory power, Banerjee barged in and interfered.”It reflects a very shocking pattern,” Mehta said while contending that this will only encourage such acts, and the central forces will be demoralised.”This is very serious matter, we intend to issue notice and examine the issue,” said the Supreme Court on ED’s Kolkata raids facing “obstruction”.ED calls obstruction a ‘theft’Mehta also told the Supreme Court of India that there was evidence indicating “incriminating material” was present at the premises searched during the I-PAC raid in Kolkata.He said local police authorities had been duly informed in advance and that senior officials, including the Director General of Police, the chief minister, the commissioner of police, the local deputy commissioner of police (DCP), and a large police force, subsequently reached the spot.Mehta alleged that materials recovered during the search were taken away “unauthorisedly”, terming the act an “offence of theft”.”There was evidence leading to the conclusion that incriminating material was lying in a premise…local police was intimated…DGP, CM and Commissioner of Police and DCP of area, large police force, goes there…took material unauthorizedly. It’s an offense of THEFT. She takes it away. Mobile of ED official also taken away. She even went before media…this will encourage officers to not discharge their duty. Forces will be demoralized. Let example be set. Officers who were present during exercise be placed under suspension and placed under departmental enquiry. Please take cognizance of what’s happening,” Mehta was quoted as submitting to SC as per Live Law.’ED charges a blatant lie’Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for chief minister Mamata Banerjee, dismissed the ED’s charges as a “blatant lie”. “It is a blatant lie that all digital devices were taken,” said Kapil Sibal.”Allegation that CM Mamata Banerjee took all devices is a lie, substantiated by ED’s own panchnama (search record). Last statement in coal scam recorded in February 2024; what was ED doing since then? Why so keen in the midst of elections?” Sibal asked.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIran Unrest Worries Families Of Indian Students, Parents Appeal To Govt For HelpUS Senate Hearing Turns Viral After Indian-Origin Doctor Refuses Yes Or No On Men Getting PregnantNSA Ajit Doval’s Speech Rattles Pakistan, Triggers Fury As India Calls It Strategic AnxietyJamiat Chief Madani Slams Congress For ‘Flexible Policy On Hate Politics’; BJP, VHP ReactACMA President Says Auto Parts Industry May Face Slowdown In Second Half, Pins Hopes On Trade DealsJaishankar Holds Talks With Iran FM Araghchi as Middle East Tensions Escalate“At 75% Tariff, Partnership Loses Meaning,” Tharoor After Jaishankar–Rubio TalksLeT Commander’s Jihad Call Mirrors Pak Army Rhetoric As Terror And State Lines Blur On KashmirCalcutta HC Hears ED and TMC Petitions Over I-PAC Raids, ED Moves Supreme CourtSix Sarpanches Booked in Kamareddy for Mass Killing of Stray Dogs Ahead of Elections123Photostories‘The Bluff’: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Karl Urban starrer’s cast, release date, plot revealedAll movies that earned Leonardo DiCaprio an Oscar nomination10 Maharashtrian breakfast dishes you need to try5 cheapest countries Indians can travel to right nowNot everything is colourful: 5 animals that are colour blindWhat to do when you already know that your child is lying to youInside Mark Zuckerberg’s insane watch collectionHow to build a reading routine that kids will stick toWinter Special: How to make classic Carrot Cake in a kadhai5 safari gates in north Indian national parks with the highest chances of tiger sightings123Hot PicksIran protestsBudget 2026Gold rate todayBank holiday todayAmrit Bharat ExpressPublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingFortnite Update V39 39 Release DateNHL Trade RumorsXavier Worthy InjuryCameron Jordan PodcastPhil Taylor Net WorthTrea Turner WifeKlay Thompson GirlfriendIndia vs New Zealand ODI MatchTravis KelceKyrie Irving Net Worth
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday said it was “disturbed” about commotion that occurred at Calcutta high court during hearing on disruption at Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on Trinamool-linked political consultancy I-PAC.Aftershocks of the showdown between ED and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee over raids on I-PAC jolted Calcutta high court last week, prompting Justice Suvra Ghosh to postpone hearing petitions on grounds of “enormous disturbance and commotion” in the courtroom.“We are very much disturbed with incidents in Calcutta HC,” the Supreme Court said during the hearing on Thursday.During the hearing, the ED told the Supreme Court that the West Bengal government’s “interference and obstruction”, including by chief minister Mamata Banerjee, in its probe and search operation at the I-PAC office and its chief’s residence reflects a very shocking pattern.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, told a bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Vipul Pancholi that in the past also, whenever statutory authorities exercised statutory power, Banerjee barged in and interfered.“It reflects a very shocking pattern,” Mehta said while contending that this will only encourage such acts, and the central forces will be demoralised.“This is very serious matter, we intend to issue notice and examine the issue,” said the Supreme Court on ED’s Kolkata raids facing “obstruction”.ED calls obstruction a ‘theft’Mehta also told the Supreme Court of India that there was evidence indicating “incriminating material” was present at the premises searched during the I-PAC raid in Kolkata.He said local police authorities had been duly informed in advance and that senior officials, including the Director General of Police, the chief minister, the commissioner of police, the local deputy commissioner of police (DCP), and a large police force, subsequently reached the spot.Mehta alleged that materials recovered during the search were taken away “unauthorisedly”, terming the act an “offence of theft”.“There was evidence leading to the conclusion that incriminating material was lying in a premise…local police was intimated…DGP, CM and Commissioner of Police and DCP of area, large police force, goes there…took material unauthorizedly. It’s an offense of THEFT. She takes it away. Mobile of ED official also taken away. She even went before media…this will encourage officers to not discharge their duty. Forces will be demoralized. Let example be set. Officers who were present during exercise be placed under suspension and placed under departmental enquiry. Please take cognizance of what’s happening,” Mehta was quoted as submitting to SC as per Live Law.‘ED charges a blatant lie’Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for chief minister Mamata Banerjee, dismissed the ED’s charges as a “blatant lie”. “It is a blatant lie that all digital devices were taken,” said Kapil Sibal.“Allegation that CM Mamata Banerjee took all devices is a lie, substantiated by ED’s own panchnama (search record). Last statement in coal scam recorded in February 2024; what was ED doing since then? Why so keen in the midst of elections?” Sibal asked.
![Zoji La [Ladakh] SRINAGAR: Zoji La tunnel, an upcoming strategic corridor that will provide all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, is nearing a defining moment, with engineers inching towards a “breakthrough” final blast expected around May 30.Work is progressing at about four meters per day from both ends — Sonamarg (Baltal) in Kashmir and Minamarg in Ladakh — using controlled drilling and blasting. Only 300 meters of the 13.155km tunnel is left to excavate, Harpal Singh, chief operating officer (COO) of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL), told TOI. The Hyderabad-based company is executing the project.“The final blast will bring the excavation phase to a close, completing the tunnel’s core structure,” Singh said, adding the blast will signal the physical connection between Kashmir and Ladakh.According to Singh, this historic milestone will be achieved by reducing tunnel excavation to zero within 30 to 35 days. “Breakthrough will ensure speedy construction of the remaining works, including concrete lining, permanent tunnel drainage, installation of surveillance equipment, control buildings, underground transformers and (traffic) smoke control systems,” Singh explained.The tunnel is still another two-and-a-half years from completion. Before it is opened to the public, the breakthrough will allow construction teams and machines to move seamlessly between two ends, streamlining work. “The teams and equipment can move through the tunnel without any hassle,” Singh said, adding this will help sustain construction through winters when heavy snowfall in Sonamarg halts surface movement.The tunnel will reduce distance between the two ends (Sonamarg and Minamarg) from 49km to 43km and increase vehicle speeds from 30kmph to 70kmph, officials said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSamrat Chaudhary Becomes Bihar CM: A Political Journey Marked by Setbacks and ReinventionIran Expresses Confidence In India’s BRICS Presidency Amid West Asia ConflictPM Modi, Donald Trump Hold 40-Min Phone Call, Discuss Strait Of Hormuz, West Asia SituationPak Enters Noida? Stunning Twist To Wage War As Workers Riot In NCR; Yogi Minister Drops BombshellFuel Price Freeze Amid Hormuz Crisis Is Costing Oil Companies Thousands of Crores DailyChina Defends Renaming Places In Arunachal After India Slams Beijing’s ‘Mischievous Attempt’Bihar DY CM Puzzle for JDU, Nishant Kumar Reluctance Complicates NDA MathNitish Kumar Resigns After 20 Years as Bihar CM; BJP Names Samrat Choudhary as SuccessorWomen’s Reservation Bill Explained: How 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan Promises To Change Indian PoliticsExplained: Supreme Court Backs Right to Vote but Denies Relief to Bengal’s Deleted Voters123PhotostoriesWhy this new rice variety is called ‘Designer Rice’ and how it will impact your protein intake10 free things to do in Noida that are actually worth your timeHow to make Chef Sanjeev Kapoor-style Langarwali Dal6 essential real estate investment strategies for first-time buyers9 unique food etiquette rules from around the worldTop 5 IT hubs in India driving real estate demandArgue without breaking up: 5 simple rules every couple needs to know‘Bhooth Bangla’, ‘Dacoit’ To ‘The Drama’: What to watch in theatres this Week5 things you can bake beyond bread in an OTGIsrael–Lebanon tensions flare again: Inside Hezbollah’s arsenal and Lebanon’s military hand against Israel123Hot PicksIran warStock market holidayPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingDelhi-Dehradun ExpresswayStock market holidayBank holiday todayKaty PerryAnna Kepner murderDon TzuPraful HingeIPL Points TableKavya MaranNFL news roundup](https://vknewstoday.in/wp-content/uploads/1776198165_photo.jpg "Zoji La [Ladakh] SRINAGAR: Zoji La tunnel, an upcoming strategic corridor that will provide all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, is nearing a defining moment, with engineers inching towards a “breakthrough” final blast expected around May 30.Work is progressing at about four meters per day from both ends — Sonamarg (Baltal) in Kashmir and Minamarg in Ladakh — using controlled drilling and blasting. Only 300 meters of the 13.155km tunnel is left to excavate, Harpal Singh, chief operating officer (COO) of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL), told TOI. The Hyderabad-based company is executing the project.“The final blast will bring the excavation phase to a close, completing the tunnel’s core structure,” Singh said, adding the blast will signal the physical connection between Kashmir and Ladakh.According to Singh, this historic milestone will be achieved by reducing tunnel excavation to zero within 30 to 35 days. “Breakthrough will ensure speedy construction of the remaining works, including concrete lining, permanent tunnel drainage, installation of surveillance equipment, control buildings, underground transformers and (traffic) smoke control systems,” Singh explained.The tunnel is still another two-and-a-half years from completion. Before it is opened to the public, the breakthrough will allow construction teams and machines to move seamlessly between two ends, streamlining work. “The teams and equipment can move through the tunnel without any hassle,” Singh said, adding this will help sustain construction through winters when heavy snowfall in Sonamarg halts surface movement.The tunnel will reduce distance between the two ends (Sonamarg and Minamarg) from 49km to 43km and increase vehicle speeds from 30kmph to 70kmph, officials said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSamrat Chaudhary Becomes Bihar CM: A Political Journey Marked by Setbacks and ReinventionIran Expresses Confidence In India’s BRICS Presidency Amid West Asia ConflictPM Modi, Donald Trump Hold 40-Min Phone Call, Discuss Strait Of Hormuz, West Asia SituationPak Enters Noida? Stunning Twist To Wage War As Workers Riot In NCR; Yogi Minister Drops BombshellFuel Price Freeze Amid Hormuz Crisis Is Costing Oil Companies Thousands of Crores DailyChina Defends Renaming Places In Arunachal After India Slams Beijing’s ‘Mischievous Attempt’Bihar DY CM Puzzle for JDU, Nishant Kumar Reluctance Complicates NDA MathNitish Kumar Resigns After 20 Years as Bihar CM; BJP Names Samrat Choudhary as SuccessorWomen’s Reservation Bill Explained: How 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan Promises To Change Indian PoliticsExplained: Supreme Court Backs Right to Vote but Denies Relief to Bengal’s Deleted Voters123PhotostoriesWhy this new rice variety is called ‘Designer Rice’ and how it will impact your protein intake10 free things to do in Noida that are actually worth your timeHow to make Chef Sanjeev Kapoor-style Langarwali Dal6 essential real estate investment strategies for first-time buyers9 unique food etiquette rules from around the worldTop 5 IT hubs in India driving real estate demandArgue without breaking up: 5 simple rules every couple needs to know‘Bhooth Bangla’, ‘Dacoit’ To ‘The Drama’: What to watch in theatres this Week5 things you can bake beyond bread in an OTGIsrael–Lebanon tensions flare again: Inside Hezbollah’s arsenal and Lebanon’s military hand against Israel123Hot PicksIran warStock market holidayPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingDelhi-Dehradun ExpresswayStock market holidayBank holiday todayKaty PerryAnna Kepner murderDon TzuPraful HingeIPL Points TableKavya MaranNFL news roundup")
