High Court Grants Relief to TMC on Frozen Accounts
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday allowed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to operate its bank accounts that were frozen by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering probe. The court imposed several conditions, including that the party must maintain a detailed record of all transactions and submit periodic reports to the court.
Background of the Case
The ED had frozen TMC's bank accounts in March 2026 as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities in the distribution of relief materials during the COVID-19 pandemic. The party had challenged the freeze, arguing that it was hampering its day-to-day functioning and political activities.
Court's Conditions
Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharya, while allowing the operation of the accounts, directed that TMC cannot withdraw more than Rs 50 lakh per month without prior court approval. The party must also furnish a monthly statement of accounts to the ED and the court. Additionally, the funds cannot be used for any purpose other than legitimate party expenses, and any violation will result in the accounts being frozen again.
TMC's Reaction
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh welcomed the order, stating, "This is a relief for the party as we can now resume our political work. We have always maintained that the accounts were frozen without proper justification." He added that the party would comply with all conditions laid down by the court.
ED's Stance
The ED had opposed the plea, arguing that the accounts were frozen to prevent the dissipation of proceeds of crime. However, the court noted that the freeze was causing undue hardship to the party and that the conditions would ensure proper oversight.
Political Implications
The development comes as a boost for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had accused the central government of using investigative agencies to target political opponents. The TMC has been under scrutiny from the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in multiple cases since the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections.
