Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Jun 22: The All India Trinamool Congress on Monday approached the Calcutta High Court after police ordered the freezing of three of its bank accounts amid an internal dispute over the party’s financial management.
The party has sought judicial intervention to ascertain the legal basis for the action, including who authorised the freezing of the accounts and the reasons behind the decision.
Lawyers representing the Trinamool Congress sought permission to file the matter before the bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya. The court accepted the plea, and a formal hearing is expected to take place later this week.
According to party sources, the three frozen accounts collectively hold around Rs 440 crore.
The controversy stems from an internal dispute over control of party finances following a recent organisational reshuffle.
On June 5, after the party's disappointing performance in the state Assembly elections, Trinamool Congress appointed former MP Subhasish Chakraborty as its new treasurer, replacing former minister Aroop Biswas.
However, Aroop Biswas subsequently wrote to a private bank, asserting that he remained the party's treasurer and requesting that transactions involving three accounts be suspended due to the ongoing dispute over control of party funds.
The accounts are maintained at the Central Plaza branch of a private bank in Kolkata. The suspension of transactions triggered strong reactions within the party leadership, which later issued a show-cause notice to Biswas.
In a three-page reply, Biswas raised concerns regarding the party's internal financial operations, claiming that although he was responsible for maintaining the accounts, several financial transactions had taken place without his knowledge.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and leader of the rebel Trinamool legislators, Ritabrata Banerjee, backed Biswas' demand for greater scrutiny.
“Who knows whether there is money from illegal commissions in that account or not? I agree with Aroop Biswas. There should be an investigation,” Banerjee said.
On June 19, around 10 rebel Trinamool MLAs reportedly approached Bidhannagar South Police Station seeking an immediate freeze on the accounts.
Following the complaint, police initiated an inquiry and subsequently froze the three accounts.
The Trinamool Congress, headed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has now moved the High Court to challenge the action and seek clarity on the legality of the decision.