New Delhi, Jan. 15 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the FIRs registered by the West Bengal police against Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers in connection with searches conducted against the political consultancy firm I-PAC in Kolkata, observing that the matter raised serious and far-reaching questions about alleged interference with investigations by central agencies.

High political drama unfolded in West Bengal on on January 8 after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached the offices of political consultancy firm I-PAC even as the Enforcement Directorate was conducting search operations in connection with the coal smuggling case. The ED had accused Mamata Banerjee of entering the residential premises of Prateek Jain, director ...