The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the petition filed by West Bengal former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s side seeking permission to resume transactions in bank accounts belonging to the Trinamool Congress party that were frozen by the Election Commission.
In the West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, the Trinamool Congress party was defeated and lost power. Following this, the party’s MLAs have split into two factions and are operating separately: one supporting former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the other supporting Legislative Assembly Opposition Leader Rithabr Banerjee. After hearing the petitions filed by both sides claiming rights to the party’s name and symbol, the Election Commission announced that the party’s name and symbol would be temporarily frozen until a final decision is made. It also allotted new party names and symbols to both sides. The Election Commission also froze the four accounts belonging to the Trinamool Congress party in public sector banks. Those bank accounts contain deposits of Rs. 804 crore.
Mamata Banerjee’s side filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court challenging this action of the Election Commission. However, the High Court refused to hear the petition. Challenging this, Mamata Banerjee’s side filed an appeal petition in the Supreme Court.
The bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and P.B. Varale heard the appeal in the Supreme Court on Thursday. At that time, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi appeared on behalf of Mamata Banerjee and, while arguing, submitted a copy of the order by which the police had frozen the bank accounts of the Trinamool Congress. He said, “The West Bengal police wants to cripple the political activities of the Trinamool Congress. That is why the West Bengal police is opposing the Trinamool Congress party. The Trinamool Congress party needs Rs. 12.15 crore per month to function. Therefore, the money in the bank accounts is needed for the party’s expenses,” he said.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed this. At that time, he said, “Both sides are claiming the Trinamool Congress. On Mamata Banerjee’s side, Rs. 35 crore has been deposited in bank accounts. An investigation into that is pending. Therefore, the Supreme Court should not permit transactions in the bank accounts,” he said.
The Supreme Court judges took note of this. Following this, the judges ordered the dismissal of Mamata Banerjee’s side’s petition.
Similarly, all 3 bank accounts that the Trinamool Congress party had in private banks were frozen by the West Bengal Police. Mamata’s side has filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court against this. It is noteworthy that the hearing on that petition is still pending.
