Bengal cops start probe into TMC’s bank accounts
KOLKATA: A dissident MLA’s complaint alleging substantial unaccounted deposits in Trinamool Congress’s name led Bengal Police to open a probe Friday into the party’s bank accounts under penal sections pertaining to organised crime, cheating and criminal conspiracy. Bidhannagar police commissionerate’s cybercrime wing registered the case under BNS and Information Technology Act after legislator Biswanath Das sought an investigation into the source and movement of funds through three accounts in TMC’s name with HDFC Bank’s Central Plaza branch in Kolkata. The probe was ordered a day after the news broke that former minister Aroop Biswas had written to HDFC Bank a week ago asking for the party’s accounts to be frozen. Biswas, who signed TMC’s audit report to Election Commission in his role as treasurer, was removed from the post June 5. According to the report, the three accounts hold Rs 535 crore, which constitutes over half of the party’s total declared funds of Rs 1,018.8 crore, as on March 31, 2025. Das alleged funds generated through illegal activities, had been channelled through electronic banking platforms before being deposited. “The MLA has asked police to investigate whether digital communication systems and online banking mechanisms had been used to conceal the movement of funds. He also urged us to preserve banking records, KYC documents and electronic transaction data,” a senior police officer said.
