Kolkata: In a significant legal reprieve for the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress, the Calcutta High Court on Monday allowed it to continue operating three disputed party bank accounts. The court explicitly ruled that the recent temporary freezing of the party’s election symbol by the Election Commission of India (ECI) does not restrict the faction from accessing these essential funds.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, while presiding over the matter, extended an earlier interim arrangement that permits the use of the three accounts until January 29, 2027. The accounts, notably maintained at an HDFC Bank branch, were initially frozen by the state police following a complaint from a Trinamool legislator alleging large-scale financial irregularities.
During the proceedings, the court outlined a strict mechanism to ensure financial transparency. Justice Bhattacharyya directed that any two authorized signatories from the Mamata-led faction could sign cheques for the three accounts. These cheques must then be meticulously scrutinized and co-signed by a court-appointed Special Officer before the bank processes the payments.
The ruling was delivered amidst a fierce internal tussle over the party’s organizational identity. Appearing for the state, Additional Advocate General (AAG) Rajdeep Majumdar strongly opposed the arrangement. He informed the court that the ongoing investigation has revealed substantial funds, with one account alone holding over ₹25 crore. Majumdar argued that since the ECI had intervened and frozen the party’s original symbol, the interim permission to operate the bank accounts should be immediately revoked.
Representing the Mamata faction, advocate Soheb Alam countered the state’s claims. He argued that the ECI’s decision regarding the symbol is merely a temporary measure for the upcoming bypolls, and the main dispute is still pending a final resolution. He asserted that this temporary freeze should not hinder the party’s day-to-day operations and salary disbursements.
Agreeing with the petitioner’s stance, Justice Bhattacharyya observed, “The symbol has been frozen only for the by-election. The Election Commission has not taken any final decision on this. Therefore, there is no obstacle in using the accounts in that matter.”
The High Court had previously appointed the Special Officer on July 9, questioning the sudden police action to freeze the accounts without submitting conclusive evidence. The legal battle over the financial assets will remain paused until the next hearing in early 2027, even as the ECI continues to evaluate the rival claims over the Trinamool Congress’s name and legacy.