Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress faction led by Mamata Banerjee encountered a setback in its attempt to access money tied up in frozen party accounts. The Calcutta High Court declined to entertain an emergency hearing, meaning the petition will be slated for consideration only after the court reconvenes post‑Puja break.
Reason behind the cash request
The TMC petitioned the bench for permission to draw from the blocked balances to cover routine organisational outlays such as employee salaries, office rent and other indispensable expenses. The appeal came after a stalemate with a monitoring committee chaired by retired Justice Subrata Talukdar, which had refused to release the sum.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya turned down the call for an immediate hearing and ordered that the matter be placed on the regular calendar once the court resumes after the festive recess.
Accounts remain under seal
The financial impasse started when three TMC accounts were sealed following allegations of irregularities in transactions. The matter escalated to the Calcutta High Court, where the Mamata‑led faction sought to unlock the funds essential for keeping the party’s day‑to‑day operations running.
Earlier, the Supreme Court declined to step in directly, urging the High Court to expedite its review. The apex court refrained from commenting on the substantive issues, leaving the dispute wholly to the lower bench.
The state government has opposed the TMC’s request, questioning the origin of the deposits. In earlier hearings, officials highlighted a substantial cash infusion under investigation, reinforcing the state’s reluctance to permit the release of the money.
Financial uncertainty looms for the party
The TMC contends that the continued freeze hampers its capacity to meet routine expenses and jeopardises its preparedness for forthcoming electoral campaigns in West Bengal.
Concurrently, a separate dispute over the party’s name and election symbol is unfolding among rival TMC factions. The Election Commission has temporarily barred the use of the original party name and emblem while it examines the broader controversy.
With the High Court rejecting an expedited hearing, the Mamata‑led faction must now wait until after the Puja holidays for its application to be heard. The eventual verdict will decide whether the frozen funds can be accessed, even as larger legal and organisational challenges persist.
