The Supreme Court has asked the Enforcement Directorate whether a portion of funds from three frozen bank accounts of the Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress can be released to a court-appointed officer to cover daily operational costs.
A bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and P B Varale directed Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing the federal agency, to seek instructions on the matter. The top court has scheduled the next hearing for August 11.
Operational Crunch And Disputed Accounts
The apex court was hearing a petition filed by the Trinamool Congress faction challenging a July 20 decision of the Calcutta High Court. The High Court had rejected the party’s request for interim relief to operate three bank accounts containing Rs 440.42 crore that were frozen by the agency.
Appearing for the political party, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal told the bench that the freeze has left the organization unable to pay salaries to its staff. Sibal also challenged the High Court’s observation that the party possessed 36 other unseized accounts holding Rs 164 crore, stating that the assertion was factually incorrect.
Agency Opposes Relief Citing Ongoing Investigation
Opposing the petition, Additional Solicitor General Raju argued that the anti-money laundering law empowers authorities to prevent financial offenses and stated that an investigation into money laundering involving those accounts remains active.
To enable the political party to handle day-to-day administration, the High Court had earlier named a former Calcutta High Court judge as a special officer to oversee necessary disbursements from the three accounts. This arrangement prompted the Supreme Court’s query regarding whether funds could be made available to the special officer for routine expenditures.
Origins Of Investigation And Alleged Fund Transfers
The Enforcement Directorate initiated its probe following a West Bengal Police FIR alleging unlawful financial collections, dishonest transactions, and the diversion of questionable funds through party accounts. The political party has separately challenged the initiation of the agency’s proceedings in the High Court.
According to preliminary findings by investigators, approximately Rs 160 crore was transferred from Trinamool Congress bank accounts to Carewell Aviation India Pvt Ltd and an associated firm between April 2023 and June 2026. Authorities allege that Carewell subsequently redirected Rs 82.96 crore to a newly formed entity during the same period, with Rs 112 crore ultimately used to purchase an Embraer Legacy 600 business jet and an AgustaWestland 109SP helicopter.
