ED raids Kolkata firms over suspected TMC funds
On Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched several locations in Kolkata over claims that suspect funds were routed through bank accounts tied to the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Officials said the early-morning operation covered about five sites in the city.
Officials said initial findings indicate that more than Rs 150 crore may have passed through aviation and travel companies. The investigation is centred on Carewell Aviation, a charter plane company in Kolkata, its directors, and an alleged electoral trust. ED teams are checking documents and financial records at sites on Central Avenue and in Rajarhat-New Town.
This action by the central agency comes as the TMC faces internal conflict over its finances. Last month, Kolkata Police froze debit operations on three party bank accounts after complaints from rebel MLAs who wanted an investigation into the funds’ origins. These accounts reportedly hold about Rs 440 crore and make up a large part of the party’s finances. The freeze has led to a legal dispute. On July 2, the Calcutta High Court, while hearing a petition from the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC group challenging the freeze, told the private bank involved to reveal the exact amount in the accounts.
The political impact is not limited to West Bengal. Sources say Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is likely to decide on whether to disqualify rebel TMC MPs before the Monsoon session of Parliament starts on July 20. This comes after the main party called for action against the defectors.
Reports say the ED is also looking into how chartered flights used by senior TMC leaders were funded, expanding the investigation beyond just bank accounts. There are claims that payments for these flights connected to Carewell Aviation may have come from questionable sources, such as alleged cut money and protection rackets. TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee is said to have raised these concerns in a complaint.
The ED, which investigates cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), is working to trace the full banking trail of these transactions. Officials said more information will be shared after the searches end. So far, no arrests have been made.
The ED’s action has made things harder for the TMC, which faces internal divisions and scrutiny from central agencies. The party’s finances are still a key issue in its ongoing power struggle. Many people are waiting to see what the searches uncover and what actions the ED or courts will take next.
