Trinamool Congress on Saturday issued a show-cause notice to former minister Aroop Biswas over his June 12 letter to HDFC Bank that prompted a freeze on three of the party’s bank accounts. The party is likely to move the Calcutta High Court, questioning how police can seek a debit freeze without court orders and how HDFC Bank complied immediately without any preliminary inquiry into the party’s “legal and audited bank accounts.”
Police Freeze on Party Accounts
The Bidhannagar cyber cell, acting on an FIR registered following a complaint by a rebel Trinamool MLA, had asked HDFC Bank for an immediate debit freeze on three Trinamool accounts held at the bank’s Central Plaza branch. The accounts, which held Rs 440 crore at the time, were frozen after the bank complied. Police have also sought routine account-opening forms, account holder details, KYC documents and transaction records. The bank had sought a day to comply.
Party Leadership Responds
The matter figured in Trinamool’s National Working Committee meeting chaired by Mamata Banerjee at Kalighat on Saturday evening. Party MP Sagarika Ghose said: “Trinamool is the third largest political party in the country. Led by Mamata Banerjee, we do not need lectures on transparency and integrity. The party’s accounts are fully compliant with law. BJP is misusing agencies to intimidate their rivals.”
Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra added: “If you check the expense accounts of MLAs like Ritabrata (Banerjee) or Sandipan (Saha) on the Election Commission’s website, the ‘abstract’ section lists the source of funds—bank transfers, RTGS—showing Rs 25 lakh from the All India Trinamool Congress. Some have a total expenditure of Rs 26 lakh, and Rs 27 lakh.” She continued: “You won an election spending Rs 27 lakh, with Rs 25 lakh provided in white money from the Trinamool’s audited funds, and now you are giving speeches? If you won using the proceeds of crime, then resign. They won’t resign because they have no shame.”
Rebel MLA's Stance
While Ritabrata Banerjee did not issue a statement on Saturday, he had said on Friday that there is need to probe the source of these funds — whether it is “cut money”, siphoned govt funds or proceeds from scams.
Hakim Removed from Disciplinary Committee
Trinamool Congress on Saturday dropped former Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim from its disciplinary committee and replaced him with Dola Sen. This is the first time after Hakim reached out to the rebel camp led by Ritabrata Banerjee, the Trinamool has decided to strip him from any party posts. Hakim has not only taken a seat with the rebel MLAs discarding the Mamata Banerjee loyalists but is believed to be in the run for the Assembly Public Accounts Committee chairperson post, which is kept for the opposition, but has the status of a minister.
