Despite filing dual petitions in the Supreme Court over the weekend, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) chose not to “mention” the matter for an urgent hearing before the Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday.

The central agency recently moved the apex court alleging that the West Bengal state administration and police have obstructed investigations and tampered with evidence. The legal move includes two distinct petitions: one filed by the ED as an organization and another by three individual ED officers. Notably, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar have been named as parties in the case.

A Tactical Silence in Court

When the bench headed by the Chief Justice of India convened at 10:30 AM on Monday, legal observers expected the ED to request an expedited hearing—a process known as “mentioning.” However, the agency’s counsel remained silent, opting not to seek immediate priority for the case.

This means the matter will now follow the standard procedure and will only be heard once it is officially listed on the court’s roster.

Why the Delay?

Legal experts suggest two primary reasons for the ED’s strategic decision to wait:

* Pending High Court Proceedings: The ED has already initiated litigation regarding the I-PAC investigation in the Calcutta High Court. With a hearing scheduled there for January 14, the agency may feel that pushing for a Supreme Court intervention just 48 hours prior is unnecessary.

* The State’s Caveat: The West Bengal government has already filed a “caveat” in the Supreme Court. This legal move ensures that the court cannot pass any ex-parte orders (orders without hearing both sides) regarding the searches at I-PAC offices or the residence of Pratik Jain.

The ED seeks to involve the CBI in the probe to ensure a neutral investigation, citing harassment and use of force against its officers during recent operations. For now, the legal battle remains in a holding pattern until the petitions are formally assigned to a bench.

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