ED raids multiple locations in Bengal in TMC funds case, probes Rs 440 crore bank accounts

Kolkata, July 7 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday launched a money laundering probe into transactions linked to three bank accounts of the Trinamool Congress on which “debit restrictions” were recently imposed following directions from the West Bengal Police, which is conducting a parallel investigation in the case.

Multiple ED teams, accompanied by heavily armed Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel, carried out simultaneous raids and search operations at several locations as part of the investigation.

Sources said one of the premises searched was the office of an aviation company that allegedly provided chartered flight services to Trinamool Congress leaders, including former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, for election campaigns and other official travel.

The debit restrictions were imposed last month on the party’s three bank accounts, which together hold around Rs 440 crore, following two separate developments after the TMC’s rout in the assembly elections held in April-May this year.

The first was a letter from the party’s former treasurer and former West Bengal Sports and Power Minister Aroop Biswas to the bank, seeking a freeze on the accounts over fears that the funds could be misused.

Subsequently, MLAs belonging to the “rebel but majority” faction of the Trinamool Congress legislature party, led by expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, approached the West Bengal Police with a similar request. They also alleged that the accounts could contain proceeds of corruption and extortion.

Taking note of the allegations and complaints, the police directed the bank to impose debit restrictions on the accounts. The “original but minority” faction of the party, led by Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, challenged the move before the Calcutta High Court. However, the court declined to grant interim relief and did not lift the restrictions.

Sources said that the ED has now initiated its own investigation into the matter after taking cognisance of the allegations that proceeds of corruption and extortion may have been routed through the accounts, bringing the matter under the ambit of money laundering laws.

–IANS

src/snj/skp