Calcutta High Court refuses Trinamools Congress’ plea to operate bank accounts frozen by ED
The Calcutta High Court has denied the Trinamool Congress's request to unfreeze bank accounts containing ₹440 crore, which were seized by the Enforcement Directorate amid a money laundering investigation. The court found no immediate grounds to grant relief, noting that the party still has access to other funds.
Why it matters
This ruling significantly impacts the financial operations of a major political party during an ongoing corruption investigation, highlighting the legal tension between political entities and federal investigative agencies.
In a setback to the Trinamool Congress, the Calcutta High Court on Monday (July 20, 2026) refused the party’s plea seeking permission to operate three bank accounts containing around ₹440 crore that were frozen by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case involving alleged transfers of party funds for the purchase of an aircraft and a helicopter.
The Bidhannagar police had earlier frozen the same three accounts on June 19, in response to an FIR lodged by MLA Sandipan Saha, who now belongs to the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress. In the FIR, he alleged illegal fund diversion from those accounts.
However, on July 9, a Bench led by Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya had directed the police to let the Mamata Banerjee-led faction use money from the accounts for daily administrative purposes under the supervision of a special judicial officer.
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