Calcutta High Court Postpones TMC’s Urgent Plea for Frozen Funds Until After Puja Break

Kolkata: The faction of the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee hit a procedural snag in its attempt to unfreeze the party’s bank balances. The Calcutta High Court declined an emergency hearing, meaning the petition will be placed on the regular calendar after the court’s Puja recess.

Why the TMC needs immediate access to the money

The party approached the bench requesting permission to draw from the frozen accounts to meet routine organisational outlays – staff salaries, rent and other essential expenditures. The plea comes after a stalemate with a monitoring committee chaired by retired Justice Subrata Talukdar, which has so far refused to release any of the requested sum.

Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya turned down the request for a swift hearing, directing that the matter be listed for consideration once the court reconvenes post‑holidays.

Bank accounts remain under a freeze

The financial impasse began 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 court permission to tap the funds needed to keep the party’s operations running.

Earlier, the Supreme Court declined to intervene directly, urging the High Court to expedite its review. The apex court did not pass any judgment on the substantive issues, leaving the dispute entirely in the hands of the lower court.

The state government has opposed the TMC’s request, raising doubts about the source of the deposits. In earlier hearings, officials highlighted a substantial cash infusion under investigation, reinforcing the state’s stance against releasing the money.

Financial uncertainty looms over the party

The TMC contends that the ongoing freeze cripples its ability to meet day‑to‑day expenses and jeopardises its preparedness for upcoming electoral activities in West Bengal.

At the same time, a separate tussle over the party’s name and election symbol is raging between rival TMC factions. The Election Commission has temporarily barred the use of the original party name and emblem while it deliberates on the broader dispute.

With the High Court refusing 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 disputed funds can be accessed, even as larger legal and organisational challenges continue to loom.