Calcutta High Court refuses to permit Mamata-led TMC to operate bank accounts frozen by ED

The Calcutta High Court Monday declined to permit All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) to operate the three bank accounts ordered to be frozen by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

TMC had moved the Court against ED's decision to freeze ₹440 crore in its accounts in a case under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Today, Justice Krishna Rao in an interim order refused to lift the freeze during the pendency of TMC's plea challenging the ED decision.

The Court said the ED has not ordered debit-freeze on other 36 accounts of the party which have an amount of ₹164 crores in them.

"This Court did not find any prima facie case and balance of convenience and inconvenience in favour of the petitioners. In view of the above, interim order as prayed for by the petitioners, is refused," the Bench said.

The Court directed the ED to file a response to TMC's plea within three weeks and listed the matter for hearing on August 26.

The ED case relates to alleged transfer of funds to Carewell Aviation India and its related entity between April 2023 to June 2026 in connection with alleged purchase of an aircraft and a helicopter.

Earlier, another Bench of the High Court had granted relief to TMC after the bank accounts were frozen on the directions of the West Bengal Police over rebel TMC MLA Biswanath Das's complaint alleging fund misuse.

[Read Order]