HC order on TMC bank a/cs may not affect ED freeze
The Enforcement Directorate's freeze on Trinamool Congress bank accounts remains in effect despite a Calcutta High Court order that relaxed police-imposed restraints. The agency is investigating alleged money laundering involving the purchase of an aircraft and a helicopter.
Why it matters
This highlights a legal conflict between state-level judicial orders and federal investigative agency actions in Indian politics.
NEW DELHI: Enforcement Directorate's freeze on three HDFC Bank accounts, which hold Rs 440 crore of Trinamool Congress, is likely to remain in force despite a Calcutta HC order relaxing the restraint imposed by Kolkata Police on all TMC bank accounts in view of claims by the party's breakaway faction to the money.Sources in the agency said ED was not a party to the petition on which the HC gave its judgment, and that the court was dealing with Kolkata Police's action in restraining the two TMC factions from operating the accounts. The freeze on three of 18 TMC accounts by ED under Section 17 of PMLA was not the matter being decided by the HC.Section 17 deals with the directorate's powers to conduct search and seizure, while Section 17(1A) empowers it to seize assets. The merit of ED's actions is then decided by the adjudicating authority.
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