West Bengal Police Freeze 12 More Trinamool Congress Accounts Over Alleged Fund Diversion
The West Bengal Police on Friday froze 12 additional bank accounts of the Trinamool Congress, containing deposits of over ₹1,000 crore, following complaints of illegal diversion of funds. This comes after the party's three other accounts, holding ₹440 crore, were previously frozen by the police and later the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The Trinamool Congress had challenged the earlier police order in the Calcutta High Court, which permitted the party to withdraw money under judicial supervision. Party chief Mamata Banerjee moved the court on Friday, challenging the ED's actions.
According to police officials, the 12 accounts were frozen after the cybercrime unit of the Bidhannagar Police sent notices to several national and private banks. “We have also sought the details of those accounts. For now, they have suspended those accounts, considering investigation purposes,” an officer said.
The action stems from a first information report (FIR) registered on a complaint from MLA Sandipan Saha, who has now aligned with the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool. Saha has alleged illegal fund diversion from those accounts. The police have so far recorded the statements of seven MLAs from Ritabrata's faction regarding alleged illegal transactions.
After the cybercrime unit's FIR, the ED launched its own investigation and froze the three accounts. The central probe agency also conducted searches across five locations in Kolkata on Tuesday and lodged another fresh FIR under Section 17(1-A) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, which authorises the ED to freeze assets when physical seizure is not practical.
On Friday, advocate Kishore Datta filed a petition on behalf of the Mamata Banerjee-led group, stating that the latest ED FIR hinders the party's ability to withdraw money. The court is scheduled to hear the matter on Monday.
On Thursday, a bench of the High Court allowed the Trinamool to operate the three accounts for day-to-day administrative purposes, with transactions under the oversight of a special judicial officer, retired Justice Subrata Talukdar.
In the Rajya Sabha, Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien questioned the ED action, asking when it would freeze “temple funds,” in an apparent reference to alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. “ED freezes TMC’s 3 bank accounts with HDFC. When will ED freeze temple funds,” O'Brien posted on X.
