Independent Rajya Sabha MP and veteran advocate Kapil Sibal has raised sharp questions regarding the timing of Enforcement Directorate (ED) operations, noting a consistent spike in agency activity whenever elections are on the horizon. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Sibal characterized the federal probe agency as an “omnipresent” force that seems to target opposition-ruled states and leaders specifically when the political stakes are highest, suggesting that the primary motive behind such actions is political harassment rather than impartial investigation.
The senior leader’s remarks followed recent ED raids in West Bengal at the offices of political consultancy firm I-PAC and the residence of its chief.1 Sibal argued that these searches, occurring just as the state gears up for its assembly polls, are a strategic attempt to disrupt the campaign machinery of the Trinamool Congress.2 He highlighted a recurring pattern, citing previous instances in Jharkhand and Bihar where central agencies initiated high-profile actions against leaders like Hemant Soren, Lalu Prasad, and Tejashwi Yadav exactly as their election schedules were peaking, thereby forcing them to divert critical energy from the electorate to legal defense.
Sibal expressed deep concern over the impact of these actions on India’s federal structure, asserting that the ED is being used as a tool to destabilize state governments and stifle political dissent.3 He noted that during his tenure with the UPA government between 2004 and 2014, investigative agencies were never granted such a “free hand” to intervene in the democratic process. According to Sibal, the agency has effectively become a “God” for the current establishment, capable of overriding state jurisdictions and fundamental rights at will.
Calling for judicial intervention, the former Union Minister urged the Supreme Court to expedite the hearing of pending review petitions concerning the jurisdiction and powers of probe agencies under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He warned that if the top court does not act to rein in the arbitrary exercise of power by the ED, the delicate balance of Indian democracy and the unity of the country could face long-term damage. Sibal concluded by observing that such tactics often backfire, as voters tend to react against perceived administrative overreach when they head to the polls.
