- By Aditya Jha
- Sun, 18 Jan 2026 11:01 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged the Chief Justice of India (CJI) to protect the Constitution and protect people from being targeted by the central agencies. While addressing the judges as "guardians of the Constitution", the chief minister alleged that deliberate attempts were being made by the agencies to defame the people. Banerjee further stated that the "trend of media trials" should stop, adding that they deliver their judgements even before the courts. A massive political row erupted after Banerjee allegedly interfered during a raid by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on I-PAC's co-founder, Pratik Jain.
While speaking during the inauguration of a building of the Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench of the Calcutta High Court, she urged the CJI and other judges to protect the constitution. "My request to my Chief Justice and all justices is: please protect the Constitution, democracy, judiciary, history, geography, and boundary of the country from disaster," the chief minister stated.
"Please see, there are so many agencies that are defaming... deliberate attempts are being made to defame. Please protect the people. I am not saying this for me. I am saying save the people, save the judiciary, the Constitution, and the country. We are under your custody. You are the guardian of the Constitution. There is nobody superior to you," she asserted.
Earlier on Thursday, while hearing a plea filed by the ED accusing Banerjee of obstructing the raid, the Supreme Court issued notices to the chief minister, the Bengal government, and the Director General of Police, Rajeev Kumar.
"There are larger questions that emerge and, if not answered, shall lead to lawlessness. If central agencies are working in a bona fide manner to probe a serious offence, a question arises: Can they be obstructed by party activities?" the court asked.