West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) is currently navigating a severe financial crunch following regulatory action against its party finances. Facing frozen bank accounts amid an ongoing probe by central financial agencies, the ruling party of West Bengal has formally approached the court-appointed special officer, requesting the immediate release of approximately ₹90 lakh to cover essential office operations and administrative expenses for the months of June and July.
TMC Seeks Funds via Court-Appointed Special Officer
Following a directive issued by the Calcutta High Court, the Trinamool Congress has dispatched an official communication to the court-appointed special officer and former judge, Subrata Talukdar. The party contends that the freezing of its primary financial channels has brought daily administrative workflows, party office functions, and vendor payments to a standstill.
During previous court proceedings, senior Supreme Court advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the party, emphasized the gravity of the situation by stating that the salaries of 215 regular employees were pending due to the lack of liquidity and operational fund access.
Central Agency ED and the ₹440 Crore Freeze
The financial turmoil stems from actions taken by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which has frozen three prominent bank accounts belonging to the Trinamool Congress. Official estimates indicate that these accounts hold approximately ₹440 crore in party funds.
The central agencies and government counsels have fiercely contested the party’s claims of total destitution. During legal arguments, central authorities maintained that despite the freezing measures, the Trinamool Congress still retains access to roughly ₹164 crore across other channels. In response to the immediate operational deadlock, the High Court previously permitted limited and conditional usage of funds from the restricted accounts, placing the disbursement process under the direct supervision of the special officer to ensure strict judicial oversight.