“Why Are You So Afraid?”: Supreme Court Questions I-PAC Officer’s Plea in ED Raid Case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to restrain the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from accessing data from the mobile phone of I-PAC officer Jitendra Mehta, which had been seized during a raid at the political consultancy’s Delhi office on January 8. The ED alleges that Rs 20 crore was sent via hawala from Kolkata to I-PAC’s Goa office.

Arguments on Privacy
Senior Advocate C.A. Sundaram, appearing before the bench led by CJI D.Y. Suryakant, argued that allowing the ED to unlock Mehta’s phone would violate his right to privacy. Sundaram requested that the ED be restrained from accessing the device until the next hearing scheduled for Tuesday. The bench, however, reportedly questioned the counsel, asking, “Why are you so afraid?”

Sundaram emphasized that the Supreme Court should intervene to protect Mehta’s fundamental rights, but the bench observed that the court knows how to safeguard the rights of an innocent citizen.

Details of the ED Operation
The ED had seized digital devices from I-PAC’s Delhi office during the raid. A similar operation in Kolkata could not proceed, as TMC Chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee along with police officials were present at the premises during the attempted search.

Next Hearing Scheduled
The bench led by the Chief Justice of India has consolidated this case with other ongoing matters related to access to phones and digital devices of accused individuals in money laundering cases. The next hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.