The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has flagged a discrepancy of Rs 164 crore with regard to the expenses shown in the main bank account of the Trinamul Congress, sources said on Saturday.
An ED official said letters were sent to banks regarding 15 accounts linked to the Trinamul Congress as part of an anti-money laundering probe. While attempting to reconcile the accounts, particular attention was paid to the party’s main account, where the Rs 164 crore discrepancy was detected. Letters have been sent to ascertain the purpose for which such a large amount was utilised. The authorities have also noted links between the party’s entities and a company named ‘Carewell Aviation’.
At one stage, the agency froze one of the accounts. Searches were also conducted at the premises of the aviation company, where crores of rupees had been routed.
A few days back, TMC leader Aroop Biswas had written to the bank requesting that the account be frozen. In the letter, Biswas identified himself as the treasurer of the TMC and claimed the party was going through internal turmoil, with MPs quitting and dissent brewing among MLAs. He raised concerns about control and authority of the party, and argued that the account needed to be secured to prevent potential complications. He also expressed apprehension that cheques issued by him might be misused.
State Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, who leads a faction of Trinamul Congress, also supported the contents of Biswas’s letter.
The ED is investigating whether ‘cut money’ (illicit commissions) is involved in these transactions. The probe was initiated following allegations regarding financial irregularities involving 10 TMC MLAs.
The ED claims to have traced the money trail to a company named ‘Carewell Aviation’ and its various subsidiaries. Significantly, ‘Carewell Aviation’ provides chartered flights to VIPs, including Trinamul Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee.
The agency has questioned the transfer of approximately Rs 160 crore to these entities, noting that the funds were used to purchase an aircraft and an Agusta helicopter.