Supreme Court Probes ED's ₹440 Crore Freeze on TMC Accounts, Eyes Daily Expense Relief

India's Supreme Court today questioned the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on whether a portion of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) frozen bank accounts, holding an estimated ₹440 crore, could be released for its routine operations. The top court, comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and Prasanna B. Varale, heard a special leave petition (SLP) from the TMC challenging the Calcutta High Court earlier refusal to grant interim relief against the ED debit freeze. This critical intervention comes amidst a high-stakes money laundering probe that has significantly impacted the party's finances. The ED froze three HDFC Bank accounts belonging to the TMC under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in early July 2026, following allegations of suspicious fund transfers totaling around ₹160 crore to entities like Carewell Aviation India Pvt. Ltd. for purchasing aircraft and helicopters. The Calcutta High Court, on July 20, had declined to lift the freeze, noting that the ED had not restricted access to 36 other party accounts containing ₹164 crore. This legal battle highlights the intense scrutiny on political funding and the broad powers exercised by central agencies in India. The Supreme Court suggested that a limited amount could be managed by a court-appointed administrator, Justice (Retd.) Subrata Talukdar, without delving into the broader merits of the money laundering allegations, which remain under the Calcutta High Court purview. The ED, represented by Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, has been given until August 11 to provide its response, with the Calcutta High Court set to revisit the main writ petition on August 20. This interim arrangement could offer a temporary lifeline for the TMC while the larger financial irregularities investigation unfolds.