The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday launched a money laundering investigation into transactions linked to three bank accounts of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which together hold around ₹440 crore. The probe follows debit restrictions imposed on the accounts based on directions from the West Bengal Police, which is conducting a parallel investigation into allegations of financial irregularities.
As part of the investigation, multiple ED teams, accompanied by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel, carried out simultaneous raids at several locations across West Bengal. One of the premises searched was reportedly the office of an aviation company that allegedly provided chartered flight services to senior TMC leaders, including former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, during election campaigns and official travel.
The investigation stems from complaints alleging that the party’s bank accounts may contain proceeds of corruption and extortion. The accounts were first frozen following requests from former TMC treasurer Aroop Biswas and a rebel faction of the party. Although the Mamata Banerjee-led faction challenged the restrictions before the Calcutta High Court, the court declined to grant interim relief. The ED has now initiated its own probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to examine the financial transactions linked to the accounts.
