Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Jul 10: Debit restrictions have been extended to 12 more bank accounts linked to the Trinamool Congress, taking the total number of restricted accounts to 15 and bringing the combined deposits under scrutiny to nearly ?1,000 crore, according to sources familiar with the developments.
Sources said the 12 additional accounts, spread across public and private sector banks, hold deposits exceeding Rs 550 crore. The restrictions came into effect on Friday following directions issued by the West Bengal Police.
Earlier, three other Trinamool Congress accounts maintained with a private sector bank had also been placed under debit restrictions. Those restrictions were initially imposed on the instructions of the state police and were subsequently reinforced following action by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The three accounts reportedly contain deposits of around ?440 crore.
With the latest action, the total funds lying in the 15 restricted accounts are estimated to be close to Rs 1,000 crore.
Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress limited and conditional access to the three accounts that were frozen during the first phase of the restrictions.
A single-judge bench appointed retired Justice Subrata Talukdar as a special officer to oversee the operation of these accounts until September 30. Under the court's directions, any expenditure by the party from these accounts must receive approval and be routed through the court-appointed officer.
The restrictions on the party's bank accounts began last month following complaints received by the West Bengal Police.
One of the complaints was submitted by the party's former treasurer and former West Bengal minister Aroop Biswas, who requested that the accounts be frozen over concerns that the funds could be misused.
Subsequently, legislators belonging to the "rebel but majority" faction of the Trinamool Congress Legislature Party, led by expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, also approached the police with similar concerns. They additionally alleged that the accounts could contain proceeds of corruption and extortion.
Acting on these complaints, the West Bengal Police directed the concerned banks to impose debit restrictions on the accounts.
The Mamata Banerjee-Abhishek Banerjee faction challenged the action before the Calcutta High Court, but the court declined to provide interim relief by lifting the restrictions.
The Enforcement Directorate later launched its own investigation after taking cognisance of allegations that the accounts may have been used to channel proceeds of corruption and extortion, bringing the matter under the ambit of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
As part of the probe, ED officials conducted searches at five locations in Kolkata on Tuesday in connection with the ongoing investigation.