The Kalighat faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has approached the Calcutta High Court seeking an urgent hearing over the control of the party's funds, following an internal power struggle that has led to the freezing of three bank accounts holding around ₹440 crore.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Kalighat camp, urged the court to take up the matter on an urgent basis. The case is expected to come up before the bench of Justice Sougata Bhattacharyya.
The High Court, however, directed that notices be served on all parties before the matter is heard. The respondents include the police, the bank authorities, and the West Bengal government.
TMC's counsel requested an emergency hearing at 2 pm on Monday, but the court observed that all stakeholders must first be notified. It said the plea for an urgent hearing would be considered either later on Monday or on Tuesday after notices are issued.
The dispute comes in the wake of a deepening split within the TMC following the party's poor performance in the West Bengal Assembly elections. A rebel group led by Ritabrata Banerjee has claimed to be the "real Trinamool," with Arup Roy appointed as its chairman.
Amid the internal conflict, former party treasurer Arup Biswas had written to the bank seeking a freeze on the party's accounts, citing the ongoing organisational dispute. Subsequently, the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction approached the police with a similar request.
Acting on the complaint, the police instructed the bank to freeze transactions in three TMC accounts containing approximately ₹440 crore and sought records of financial transactions.
Challenging these actions, the Kalighat camp has now moved the High Court, arguing that the matter requires immediate judicial intervention as the battle over control of the party's finances intensifies.
