The Calcutta High Court on Monday refused to grant interim relief to the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), declining to unfreeze three of the party’s bank accounts that were frozen by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering investigation.
Justice Krishna Rao, in an interim order, said the freeze on the accounts would remain in place while the court hears TMC’s petition challenging the ED’s action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The ED froze bank accounts holding around ₹440 crore as part of its probe into the alleged transfer of funds to Carewell Aviation India and its related entity between April 2023 and June 2026.
The agency is investigating the transactions in connection with the alleged purchase of an aircraft and a helicopter.
TMC approached the High Court seeking the release of the funds, arguing against the ED’s decision to freeze the accounts.
Earlier, the party had secured relief from another Bench of the Calcutta High Court after the West Bengal Police froze the same bank accounts following a complaint by rebel TMC MLA Biswanath Das, who alleged misuse of party funds.
Why ED froze TMC’s bank accounts ₹440 crore
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also frozen approximately 440 crore rupees deposited in three bank accounts of the party in a money laundering case. The investigation is said to be related to alleged financial irregularities in renting chartered planes and private jets.
