The nasty drama between CM Mamata Banerjee’s party and the Enforcement Directorate over raids at the office of a political consultancy firm reflects a troubling trend: the growing overlap between criminal investigation and electoral politics. The timing of the raids raises serious questions about the ED’s claim that it is investigating a money-laundering operation in connection with an alleged coal smuggling syndicate. Last year, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and his Deputy Manish Sisodia were prosecuted by the ED in a liquor policy case. The SC has rebuffed ED several times for acting as an arm of the ruling party to fix its political rivals. However, the agency is still carrying out the Centre’s directives. Investigative agencies cannot function without fear or favour if the political leadership interferes in their work, but nor can democracy thrive if probes are perceived as timed and targeted to destabilise rival parties in the run-up to elections. The BJP is desperate to win Bengal and will go to any stretch to capture the hitherto elusive state, but Mamata Banerjee too is determined to retain the state as her political future depends on it.
