The Calcutta High Court was unable to take up the I-PAC-related matter on Friday after unruly scenes broke out in the courtroom even before arguments could begin. The situation spiralled out of control as lawyers crowded the hall and began pushing and arguing among themselves, forcing the presiding judge to step away.

Justice Suvra Ghosh repeatedly urged advocates to maintain decorum, warning that lawyers not connected to the case should exit the courtroom immediately. When her directions failed to restore order and confusion intensified over who should remain present, the judge expressed her displeasure and walked out, adjourning the matter to January 14.

As a result, hearings on petitions filed by both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Trinamool Congress were postponed to the same date.

The ED has approached the High Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The agency has accused her of interfering with its investigation into the alleged coal smuggling case during searches conducted at the office of political consultancy firm I-PAC and the residence of its head, Pratik Jain.

In response, the Trinamool Congress moved the court demanding the return of documents and materials seized during the raids. Chief Minister Banerjee has alleged that the central agency’s actions were politically driven and aimed at accessing the ruling party’s election strategy ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls.

The dispute has further escalated with the Trinamool Congress filing two separate complaints against the ED. Acting on these complaints, the Kolkata Police and Bidhannagar Police registered FIRs and launched their own investigations.

The ED, meanwhile, has accused the Chief Minister of removing crucial documents and electronic devices from the premises under search, intensifying the standoff between the central agency and the state government.

Banerjee lodged complaints against unidentified ED officials and CRPF personnel at the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station, and against unknown ED officers at the Electronic Complex police station in Bidhannagar. These complaints relate to the searches carried out at Pratik Jain’s Loudon Street residence and I-PAC’s Salt Lake office on Thursday.