Full Breakdown
Supreme Court Refuses to Intervene in TMC Faction’s Request to Operate Frozen Accounts
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Core Event – Supreme Court Dismisses Plea
On October 1, 2026, a two-judge bench of Justices M. M. Sundresh and P. B. Varale declined to grant relief to the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) faction that sought to operate four debit-frozen bank accounts. The court said it would not interfere with the Calcutta High Court’s interim order and urged the high court to expedite its hearing.
Background & Context – Party Split, Symbol Freeze, and Account Freeze
The dispute stems from an internal split within the TMC. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has frozen the party’s original “flower” symbol while adjudicating which faction is entitled to it. The Mamata-led faction was allotted the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the football-player symbol for the October 6 by-elections; the rival “Democratic Trinamool Congress” received the envelope symbol.
West Bengal Police, acting on an Enforcement Directorate money-laundering probe, debit-frozen the four accounts held with public-sector banks after complaints that Sumit Roy, personal secretary to lawmaker Abhishek Banerjee, deposited INR35 crore in cash.
Data & Statistics – Funds and Daily Expenditure Needs
- INR804 crore is held in the four frozen accounts (approximately US$ $9.6 billion).
- The faction says it needs INR19 crore per month for operations but is willing to reduce the request to INR12.15 crore per month, citing the imminent by-elections.
Official Statements & Responses – Court and Government Positions
The Supreme Court bench emphasized that the entitlement to the frozen funds cannot be decided while the symbol dispute remains before the ECI. It reiterated its reluctance to exercise jurisdiction under Article 136 and asked the high court to speed up its proceedings.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the state, highlighted the seriousness of the charges and noted that the high court could be asked to expedite the hearing.
Senior advocate K. Parmeshwar, appearing for the rebel TMC faction, reminded the court that a special officer had already been appointed to ensure day-to-day expenses are met from the three unfrozen accounts, and that the request for additional withdrawals “cannot be permitted.”
Criticism & Opposition – Legal Counsel’s View of the Freeze
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Mamata-led faction, argued that the freeze “paralysed” the party’s functioning and amounted to a tactic to halt political activity of an opposition party.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The only reason for approaching the [Supreme] Court is to secure additional withdrawal from the bank, which cannot be permitted,” — Parmeshwar
- “If the police force of a state where the ruling party is opposed to me… send the police and they freeze all accounts, that's the best way of stopping political activities,” — Abhishek Manu Singhvi
What’s Next – Pending High Court Hearing
The Calcutta High Court has scheduled further arguments after the Puja holidays, with the matter slated for a hearing following the October 6 by-elections. The court’s decision on limited withdrawals will hinge on the pending determination of the legitimate faction and the ECI’s final symbol ruling.