Police have frozen three bank accounts belonging to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) holding approximately Rs440 crore, following complaints from rebel party legislators demanding an inquiry into the source of the funds, escalating the internal power struggle over control of the opposition party’s finances.
A senior police officer told PTI that the accounts, maintained with a private sector bank, have been placed under a “debit freeze”, preventing withdrawals and outward transactions while continuing to allow deposits.
The action comes amid a deepening tussle within the TMC between factions led by former minister Aroop Biswas and Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee over control of the party’s organisational and financial machinery after its defeat in recent assembly elections.
The freeze follows complaints lodged by 10 MLAs aligned with Banerjee at the cybercrime police station under the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate. The legislators sought registration of an FIR and a detailed probe into the accounts, questioning the source of the funds and transactions routed through them.
According to a copy of one complaint, the MLAs requested investigators to determine whether the money originated from lawful sources or from alleged illegal activities, including suspected cut-money collections, diversion of public funds and proceeds from scams.
“It has come to my knowledge through reliable circumstances and surrounding developments that certain funds, arising out of illegal activities, including misuse of influence, dishonest financial dealings and suspected unlawful collection of money, may have been routed and subsequently deposited into bank accounts,” the complaint stated.
The development comes days after senior TMC leader Aroop Biswas wrote to the bank seeking protection of the accounts and suspension of transactions, arguing that party deposits estimated at more than Rs500 crore should not be operated until the leadership dispute is resolved.
While Biswas had sought a freeze on the accounts over concerns related to their management and control, the rebel legislators have pushed for a criminal investigation into the origin of the funds, taking the dispute into a more serious legal arena.
Meanwhile, Mamata loyalist MLA Kunal Ghosh asserted that Biswas no longer holds the position of party treasurer.
“To remove any confusion, it must be stated clearly that Aroop Biswas was once the party treasurer. However, at the executive committee meeting held on 5 June, it was unanimously decided that Subhasish Chakraborty would be the treasurer. Since then, he has been discharging that responsibility,” Ghosh said.
