6 days ago
High Court denies TMC access to four frozen accounts
A court was asked to let one Trinamool Congress group use four bank accounts.
The accounts reportedly contain about Rs 804 crore.
Police froze the accounts after allegations that money linked to organised crime was stored in them.
The group led by Mamata Banerjee said it needed the money for party activities.
The court said another arrangement already pays some everyday costs, such as employee salaries and office rent.
A special officer manages withdrawals from three other frozen accounts.
The court also said the Election Commission should decide which TMC faction has the right to the accounts.
The judge therefore did not allow the four accounts to be used for now.
The case will be considered again after the Durga Puja vacation.
The Calcutta High Court refused interim permission for the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction to operate four frozen accounts.
The public-sector-bank accounts reportedly hold around Rs 804 crore and were frozen by West Bengal Police on July 7.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya said an earlier order already covered the party’s day-to-day expenses through three other frozen accounts.
A special officer oversees withdrawals for expenses under the July 9 order, which the Supreme Court upheld.
The case will be heard after the Durga Puja vacation, while the Election Commission considers which faction is entitled to the accounts.
- Who
- The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction, the West Bengal government and police, and another TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee are involved.
- What
- The Calcutta High Court refused interim permission to operate four frozen public-sector-bank accounts holding around Rs 804 crore.
- Where
- The matter was heard in the Calcutta High Court and concerns accounts held at a nationalised bank.
- When
- The order was issued on Thursday; the next hearing is scheduled after the Durga Puja vacation.
- Why
- The court said an earlier order already provided for the party’s day-to-day expenses and that the Election Commission had not yet determined which faction could operate the accounts.
Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction
West Bengal government and police
Access to the accounts
Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction
The faction sought permission to operate the four accounts and argued that the FIRs supporting the freeze contained deficiencies.
West Bengal government and police
The state opposed additional relief and sought permission for police to continue its investigation and prosecution steps.
Need for party funds
Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction
The faction said the existing arrangement covered some salaries and office rents but did not meet other expenses, including rallies and hoardings.
West Bengal government and police
The court said day-to-day expenses were already being handled under the July 9 order, making another interim order unnecessary.
Alleged source and movement of funds
Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction
The faction challenged the freezing of the accounts and said the funds were needed for the political party’s activities.
West Bengal government and police
The state claimed that arrested TMC leader Debraj Chakraborty deposited several crores into the accounts and that Rs 30 crore was transferred to Leaps and Bounds, which it said was chargesheeted in the school recruitment scam case.
Control of the accounts
Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction
The Mamata Banerjee faction sought to operate the accounts while the dispute remained pending.
West Bengal government and police
The court observed that the Election Commission should first decide which of the two TMC factions is entitled to the accounts.
Key facts
- Accounts affected
- Four TMC accounts with a public-sector or nationalised bank
- Reported balance
- A little over Rs 800 crore, or around Rs 804 crore
- Freeze date
- July 7
- Earlier arrangement
- A special officer was appointed on July 9 to manage day-to-day expenses from three other frozen accounts
- Supreme Court status
- The July 9 arrangement was upheld by the Supreme Court
- Reported expenses
- The arrangement covers salaries for around 200 employees and rent for some party offices; the faction said it also needs funds for rallies and hoardings
- Next hearing
- After the Durga Puja vacation
Quotes
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya
Calcutta High Court judge hearing the Trinamool Congress account-access petition
“Until it is decided which faction of the party legally holds the right to operate the said accounts, the court is not inclined to issue any interim order.”
telegraphindia.com
“The Supreme Court has upheld this directive, and there is no urgency in issuing another order to operate bank accounts.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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