The Calcutta High Court has permitted limited access to three HDFC accounts of Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, but the decision offers no immediate relief as the Enforcement Directorate continues its probe. This article unpacks the legal basis, investigative findings, and political fallout.

Key Takeaways

  • Calcutta High Court allows partial operation of three TMC bank accounts.
  • ED has raided five locations in Kolkata related to the case.
  • Investigations suggest Rs 440 crore was used for chartered aircraft and a helicopter purchase.

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday, July 9, appointed a special officer to oversee the day‑to‑day expenses of the Mamata Banerjee‑aligned Trinamool Congress (TMC) and to enable partial functioning of three primary HDFC Bank accounts. The move follows a FIR lodged on June 18 at the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station by a rebel TMC faction, which claimed the accounts held proceeds of crime.

Rebel Faction’s Allegations

Former MLA, Sports Minister and party treasurer Aroop Biswas, a key figure in the dissident group, wrote to HDFC Bank demanding an immediate freeze of the party’s accounts. He alleged that the combined corpus of roughly Rs 440 crore could stem from cyber fraud, diversion of public funds, and other illicit activities. Within a day of filing the FIR, the three accounts were debit‑frozen.

Enforcement Directorate’s Actions

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) subsequently raided five sites in Kolkata, including the office of Carewell Aviation, the provider of chartered flights allegedly used by Mamata’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee. The ED’s investigation uncovered transfers of about Rs 160 crore from TMC accounts to Carewell Aviation and its related entities between April 2023 and June 2026. These funds were reportedly used to purchase an Embraer Legacy 600 jet and an Agusta 109 helicopter, amounting to a total expenditure of Rs 112 crore, plus a $1.7 million unsecured loan from a Cayman Islands entity.

Why the Court’s Partial Relief Is Limited

According to PTI, the court observed that the FIR was “omnibus in nature” and failed to pinpoint any specific transaction that directly enriched the three accounts. Justice Bhattacharyya noted the lack of concrete material to justify an abrupt freeze, leading the court to order HDFC to maintain detailed electronic transaction logs and cooperate fully with investigators.

Political Implications

While the court’s order allows limited access, it does not halt the ED’s freeze, which was re‑imposed later on the same day. Moreover, the Election Commission’s pending decision on the recognition of the rebel TMC faction adds another layer of uncertainty. Analysts warn that prolonged financial constraints could hamper the party’s campaign machinery ahead of the next West Bengal assembly elections, testing Mamata Banerjee’s leadership and the party’s internal cohesion.