SC asks if ED is arguing ‘failure of constitutional machinery’ in WB by claiming rule of law breach

The Supreme Court on Thursday (April 23, 2026) asked whether the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) was making a case of “breakdown of constitutional machinery” in West Bengal, momentarily pausing the Central agency’s rejoinder against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, senior State police officers and bureaucrats for allegedly violating the rule of law to “barge” into an ongoing raid at the I-PAC premises in Kolkata and leaving with material said to be incriminating in a coal smuggling case.

“We hope you are not arguing ‘breakdown of constitutional machinery’ in the context of the controversy you are raising,” Justice N.V. Anjaria, a member of the Division Bench headed by Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED.