The Enforcement Directorate (ED) approached the Calcutta High Court on Thursday following a dramatic turn of events during its search operation at the residence of political strategist and I-PAC chief Pratik Jain in Kolkata. The move came shortly after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the premises while the agency’s search was still underway.

According to reprts, the Chief Minister entered Jain’s residence during the ED operation and later exited with documents and a mobile phone, triggering immediate objections from the central agency. ED officials reportedly viewed the incident as a serious breach of investigative protocol and decided to seek judicial intervention to safeguard the integrity of the ongoing probe.

The search at Jain’s residence was part of a wider investigation being carried out by the ED in connection with alleged financial irregularities. While details of the case remain under wraps, the agency has maintained that the operation was lawful and unrelated to any electoral considerations.