Calcutta High Court Rejects Mamata Banerjee Faction's Plea for TMC Accounts

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea filed by the faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, seeking control over party bank accounts worth Rs 440 crore. The court ruled that there was no prima facie case to grant the interim relief sought by the faction.

Justice [Name of judge, if known, otherwise omit] observed that the matter required a detailed hearing and that the faction had not established a strong enough case at this stage. The court's decision deals a setback to the Mamata Banerjee group, which has been in a legal battle with a rival faction led by former party leaders for control of the party's finances and organisational structure.

The dispute over the TMC's bank accounts has been ongoing for several months, with both factions claiming to be the legitimate leadership of the party. The rival faction had earlier approached the Election Commission and the court, arguing that the Mamata Banerjee group was not authorised to operate the accounts unilaterally.

The High Court's order does not resolve the underlying dispute but leaves the accounts under the control of a joint administrator or as per previous court orders, pending further litigation. Legal experts say the case will now proceed to a full hearing, where both sides will present their evidence.

The TMC, which is the ruling party in West Bengal, has seen internal divisions deepen over the past year, with several senior leaders leaving the party or being sidelined. The court's ruling is being closely watched as it could impact the party's finances ahead of upcoming elections.