Kolkata – On Friday, the West Bengal Police froze twelve more bank accounts belonging to the Trinamool Congress (TMC), raising the count to fifteen accounts with an estimated total of Rs 1,000 crore locked. This action follows the Calcutta High Court’s decision yesterday to let the party partially operate three HDFC accounts that together hold an alleged corpus of Rs 440 crore.

Legal Context and Court Orders

Under the interim order, retired Justice Subrata Talukdar was appointed as a special officer until September 30. The party may draw on the funds solely for day‑to‑day administrative expenses, staff salaries and legal costs, with each cheque countersigned by the special officer, who receives a monthly honorarium of Rs 1.25 lakh from the party’s own coffers.

Role of the Enforcement Directorate (ED)

Despite the court’s partial relief, the Enforcement Directorate has kept the same three accounts frozen under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED’s action stems from a suspected Rs 160 crore money‑laundering probe involving a private aviation firm and the purchase of an Embraer business jet and an Agusta helicopter.

Internal Party Dispute and Police Intervention

Following the TMC’s defeat in the state assembly elections, a faction of rebel MLAs and leaders alleged a “serious dispute” within the party and urged banks to freeze the accounts. They also approached the cyber‑crime unit of Bidhannagar police for a probe into the source of the funds, prompting the police to register an FIR and launch an investigation.

Upcoming Legal Battles

The TMC has now approached the Calcutta High Court again, challenging the ED’s freeze. Senior advocate Kishore Datta has sought an urgent hearing before Justice Krishna Rao, arguing that the fresh petition targets the ED’s action under the PMLA, distinct from the earlier police‑related order. The matter is slated for hearing on Monday.

This development underscores the complex interplay between political financing, judicial oversight, and enforcement agencies in West Bengal, with potential ramifications for the broader national discourse on money‑laundering regulations.