Kolkata: Bengal police on Friday started a probe into three accounts of Trinamool Congress at HDFC Bank under BNS sections related to organised crime, cheating and criminal conspiracy, as well as under the information technology act, following a complaint lodged by rebel MLA Biswanath Das. Police asked the bank authorities to freeze withdrawals from the accounts.The probe was ordered a day after news broke that former state minister Aroop Biswas had written to HDFC Bank a week ago, asking for the party’s accounts to be frozen.In his complaint lodged with Cybercrime Wing of Bidhannagar Commissionerate, Das sought an investigation into the source and movement of funds through the accounts at HDFC Bank’s Central Plaza branch in Kolkata.According to an audit report sent by the party to Election Commission, the three accounts together have Rs 535 crore. The audited financial statements up to March 31, 2025, states that the party’s funds parked in various accounts totalled Rs 1,018.8 crore.The audit report, signed by Biswas as treasurer, said over half the party’s funds was in the Central Plaza branch. Biswas was removed from the treasurer’s post on June 5.Das, who won from Joynagar on a Trinamool ticket before defecting to the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction, alleged that money from unknown origin had been deposited in the accounts. He also claimed there were indications that funds generated from illegal activities had been channelled through electronic platforms to the three accounts.“The MLA has requested us to investigate whether digital communication systems and online banking mechanisms had been used to facilitate and conceal the movement of funds. He has also urged us to preserve banking records, account statements and electronic transaction data linked to the accounts,” said an officer.Cops said a preliminary inquiry was initiated to find out the origin of funds, identity of contributors and whether any transactions involved proceeds from unlawful activities.Sleuths will also examine the transaction trail and the role of digital platforms, if any, in facilitating the movement of funds, sources said.Das said in his complaint that while he did not know the details of the source of the funds and identities of the persons involved in the flow of money through the accounts, the circumstances called for an immediate inquiry.When contacted by TOI, Das refused to share details about the complaint.Ritabrata Banerjee, who is leading the rebel MLAs in the Bengal assembly, said, “Several of our MLAs have filed FIRs seeking a probe into the matter and demanding that the transactions be stopped. Let the investigators find out where the money came from and how it entered those accounts.”TMC Beleghata MLA Kunal Ghosh, a Mamata Banerjee loyalist, questioned the motive of the complainant. “If a party MLA thinks some wrongdoing has taken place, he must have received some information. What should have been more important to him — seeking legal action or handing ammunition to the opposition?” Ghosh said.
