Supreme Court Urges ED to Release TMC Funds

The Supreme Court of India urged the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on August 3, 2026, to consider releasing a portion of funds from three frozen bank accounts belonging to the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). The accounts, held at HDFC Bank, contain approximately ₹440 crore and were frozen as part of a money laundering probe into alleged diversions to Carewell Aviation India Pvt Ltd for the purchase of a business jet and a helicopter.

The TMC and Rajya Sabha member Dola Sen challenged a July 20 order from the Calcutta High Court, which had refused interim relief after finding no prima facie case for interference. Legal representative Kapil Sibal argued that the party is monetarily stifled and unable to pay employee salaries or legal expenses. In response, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju noted that the party still has ₹164 crore available across 36 other unattached accounts.

While the Supreme Court declined to lift the freeze entirely, it suggested that funds be released to a court-appointed administrator for daily and necessary expenses. The bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale clarified that it is not ruling on the merits of the case, which remains pending before the Calcutta High Court. The ED has been asked to obtain instructions and revert to the court by August 11, 2026.