SC declines to interfere with Calcutta HC order denying TMC access to bank accounts frozen by ED

The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to interfere with a Calcutta High Court order refusing interim permission to the Trinamool Congress to operate three bank accounts frozen by the Enforcement Directorate, Bar and Bench reported.

A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale said that the High Court had passed a “balanced” order after taking note of the fact that the party had sufficient funds to run its day-to-day affairs. The court also said that since related proceedings, including a petition concerning a freeze ordered by the West Bengal Police, were pending before the High Court, it would not be appropriate to discuss the merits of the case.

On July 20, the High Court had on July 20 refused to allow the TMC to operate three bank accounts frozen by the ED. The party had approached the High Court challenging the probe agency’s action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The case pertains to alleged financial irregularities, unlawful collection of money and routing of suspected funds through certain bank accounts of the TMC.

On June 19, the Kolkata Police froze debit operations on the accounts, a day after rebel TMC MLA Biswanath Das filed a complaint alleging that funds had been misused.

On July 8, the ED said that it had frozen three bank accounts of...

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