APEX COURT DECLINES TMC PLEA TO UNLOCK FOUR FROZEN BANK ACCOUNTS

October 1, 2026

The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress faction seeking permission to operate four bank accounts that have been placed under a debit freeze.

The accounts, which collectively hold around ₹804 crore, had earlier remained inaccessible following legal proceedings concerning the ownership and operation of the party’s funds. The Calcutta High Court had also declined to allow the faction to operate the four accounts.

The TMC faction approached the Supreme Court challenging that decision and sought access to the funds. The apex court, however, declined to interfere with the High Court’s order.

The dispute comes amid a wider conflict over the control and identity of the Trinamool Congress, with rival factions contesting the party’s organisational and electoral status. The Election Commission has separately taken interim measures concerning the party’s name and election symbol while the underlying dispute remains pending.

The bank-account issue has also involved allegations that funds linked to alleged financial wrongdoing were deposited into some of the accounts. These allegations are part of the ongoing legal proceedings and have not been finally adjudicated in the present matter.

While dismissing the plea, the Supreme Court asked the Calcutta High Court to proceed expeditiously with the related proceedings. The financial dispute therefore remains before the lower court even as the apex court has declined to permit operation of the four frozen accounts at this stage.