The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) decision to freeze three of its bank accounts in connection with a money laundering investigation.
The matter is scheduled to be heard on August 3 by a Bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and Prasanna B. Varale.
TMC challenges ED action before Supreme Court
The ED froze the accounts under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, as part of its probe into alleged financial transactions linked to the purchase of an aircraft and a helicopter. According to the agency, the three accounts together hold around ₹440 crore.
The ED has also alleged that ₹133.84 crore was transferred from one of the party’s accounts to a private company, claiming the transaction forms part of a money laundering case.
ED alleges money laundering through transactions
Earlier, the TMC had moved the Calcutta High Court, arguing that the freezing of its accounts had severely disrupted its day-to-day organisational and administrative activities. The party sought interim permission to operate the accounts until the writ petition challenging the ED’s action is decided.
High Court refused interim relief earlier
However, the High Court refused to grant interim relief, observing that no grounds existed at that stage to stay the ED’s action. The court directed that the writ petition be heard on its merits.
Challenging the High Court’s interim order, the TMC has now filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court, seeking permission to operate the frozen bank accounts until the legality of the ED’s action is finally adjudicated.
The Supreme Court will now decide whether the party should be granted interim relief while its challenge to the ED’s freezing order remains pending before the Calcutta High Court.
