ED probes ₹164 crore fictitious transactions in frozen Trinamool Congress bank account
Synopsis
The ED has written to a private bank seeking details of ₹164 crore in alleged fictitious transactions found in one of three frozen Trinamool Congress accounts — accounts that together hold ₹440 crore and are frozen on joint state police and ED orders. The probe adds a federal law-enforcement layer to what started as an internal TMC factional battle.
Key Takeaways
The ED is probing alleged fictitious transactions worth ₹164 crore in one frozen Trinamool Congress bank account.
A total of 15 TMC bank accounts are under debit restrictions, with combined deposits of approximately ₹1,000 crore .
Three accounts — holding ₹440 crore — were frozen on the joint instructions of the West Bengal Police and the ED .
Former TMC minister Aroop Biswas and rebel MLA Ritabrata Banerjee 's faction both separately sought the account freeze.
The rebel faction alleged the accounts may contain proceeds of corruption and extortion .
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating alleged fictitious transactions worth ₹164 crore traced to one of the three frozen bank accounts of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), sources aware of the development confirmed on 18 July. The central agency has already written to the concerned private sector commercial bank seeking a full account of these transactions.
Scope of the Frozen Accounts
Debit restrictions are currently in force on a total of 15 bank accounts held by Trinamool Congress. Of these, three accounts were frozen on the joint instructions of both the West Bengal Police and the ED, while the remaining 12 accounts were restricted solely on state police directions.
The combined deposits in the three ED-and-police-restricted accounts stand at ₹440 crore, while total deposits across all 15 accounts are estimated at approximately ₹1,000 crore, according to sources.
How the Fictitious Transactions Came to Light
While scrutinising the three accounts subject to ED-directed debit restrictions, investigating officials reportedly came across transactions worth ₹164 crore in one account whose detailed records had not yet been fully accessed by the agency. The ED's letter to the bank is aimed at plugging that gap and obtaining a complete transaction trail.
What Triggered the Account Freeze
The chain of restrictions began last month after two parallel developments. First, the party's former treasurer and former West Bengal Sports and Power Minister Aroop Biswas wrote to the bank authorities seeking a freeze on the three accounts, citing apprehensions that the funds could be misused.
Shortly after, rebel legislators belonging to the Trinamool Congress Legislature Party — led by expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee — approached the West Bengal Police with a similar request. The rebel MLAs also alleged that the accounts could contain proceeds of corruption and extortion, according to sources.
State Police and ED Both Step In
Acting on these complaints, the state police first directed the bank to impose debit restrictions. The ED subsequently issued its own directions for the same three accounts. Debit restrictions on the remaining 12 accounts followed later in the month, exclusively on state police instructions.
This comes amid a deepening factional crisis within Trinamool Congress, with the rebel group's allegations adding a legal dimension to what began as an internal party dispute. The ED's probe is at an early stage, and no formal charges have been filed as yet.
Point of View
000 crore sitting across 15 frozen accounts — and the ₹164 crore in allegedly fictitious transactions — raises questions about party fund governance that go beyond Bengal's factional politics. If the ED's probe substantiates the allegations, it could have consequences far beyond the current rebel-versus-leadership dynamic.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the alleged fictitious transactions of ₹164 crore in the Trinamool Congress bank account?
According to sources, ED investigators found transactions worth ₹164 crore in one of three frozen Trinamool Congress bank accounts that appear fictitious in nature. The ED has written to the private sector bank holding the account to obtain full transaction details, as the records had not yet been fully accessed by the agency.
How many Trinamool Congress bank accounts are currently frozen?
A total of 15 Trinamool Congress bank accounts are currently under debit restrictions. Three were frozen on joint instructions from the West Bengal Police and the ED, while the remaining 12 were restricted solely on state police orders.
What triggered the freeze on Trinamool Congress bank accounts?
The freeze was triggered by two parallel developments: a letter from former TMC treasurer and minister Aroop Biswas seeking a freeze over fears of fund misuse, and a separate request by rebel MLAs led by expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, who alleged the accounts contained proceeds of corruption and extortion.
Who is Ritabrata Banerjee and what role did he play?
Ritabrata Banerjee is an expelled Trinamool Congress MLA who leads a rebel faction within the TMC Legislature Party. His group approached the West Bengal Police alleging that TMC bank accounts could contain proceeds of corruption and extortion, contributing to the chain of events that led to the account freeze.
What is the total amount held in the frozen Trinamool Congress accounts?
The three accounts frozen on ED and West Bengal Police instructions together hold ₹440 crore. Across all 15 frozen accounts, total deposits are estimated at approximately ₹1,000 crore, according to sources.
