ED Probes TMC Bank Accounts, Raids Five Locations In Kolkata

Kolkata: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday (July 7) conducted raids at five premises in and around Kolkata in the case of dishonest financial dealings and routing of "dishonest suspected funds" in the bank accounts of the Trinamool Congress. Notably, three bank accounts of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC was frozen last month on the complaint filed by the party's rebel faction.As per the ED's preliminary investigation, it was revealed that huge funds of more than Rs. 150 crore have been routed through aviation and travel companies for suspicious purposes. Premises of Carewell Aviation, its directors, and one purported electoral trust were among the five locations raided by the federal probe agency. Last week the Calcutta High Court had asked

the banks to give details of money held in the three accounts of the TMC. The rebel faction of the party had filed a complaint with the police, and later an FIR was filed on June 18 in this regard.On the directions of Bidhan Nagar Police Station, the banks ordered a debit freeze operation of three bank accounts. Later, the TMC went to the High Court. Appearing for the Mamata Banerjee-led party, Abhishek Manu Singhvi had claimed that freezing bank accounts is tantamount to paralysing a party's functioning and denying a level playing field. The Calcutta High Court also asked whether the decision was taken in haste and if these accounts can be run under the supervision of joint special officers, including retired judges, till the pendency of the case. The case will be coming up for hearing on July 8.