ED freezes Rs 440 crore in three TMC accounts in laundering case
NEW DELHI: In yet another blow to TMC, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has frozen Rs 440 crore in three accounts held by the party with HDFC Bank as part of its investigation into alleged laundering of Rs 160 crore of party funds through a Kolkata-based company, Carewell Aviation. The funds were allegedly used to buy an Embraer 600 aircraft and an Agusta chopper for Rs 112 crore in what ED considers to be dubious transactions. This is the first time the agency has seized bank accounts of a political party.
‘Chopper, plane bought from TMC corpus rented to party’
Last month, Kolkata police had frozen debit operations on these three accounts based on complaints from TMC rebel MLAs seeking a probe into the source of the funds.
“It is also revealed that $1.7 million was arranged as an unsecured loan in 2023 from a Cayman Islands entity to purchase the said helicopter,” the ED said.
‘Chopper, plane bought from TMC corpus rented to party’
Last month, Kolkata police had frozen debit operations on these three accounts based on complaints from TMC rebel MLAs seeking a probe into the source of the funds.
Aircraft, Chopper Acquisition Under ED Lens: TMCs Dishonest Financial Dealings Case Deepens
“It is also revealed that $1.7 million was arranged as an unsecured loan in 2023 from a Cayman Islands entity to purchase the said helicopter,” the ED said.
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