Kolkata, Aug. 27 -- The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday declined to grant further interim relief to the Trinamool Congress in its challenge to the freezing of four additional bank accounts by the State police's Cyber Cell.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharya said the court's July 9 order, later upheld by the Supreme Court, already allowed the party to meet its day-to-day expenses through a Special Officer while restricting unrestricted operation of its accounts.
Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, appearing for the TMC, said the four accounts were frozen on July 7 in connection with the same FIR. She argued that the party needed funds not only for salaries and rent but also for rallies and other political activities.
The court said it had consciously limited the accounts' operation and questioned what would remain for final adjudication if unrestricted access was granted at the interim stage.
Opposing further relief, Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumdar referred to investigation material alleging around Rs 7 crore in cash and another Rs 10 crore deposit linked to the accounts.
He also alleged that nearly Rs 30 crore had been transferred from one account to Leaps and Bounds, a company charge-sheeted in the recruitment scam case.
The court noted that the Supreme Court had already dealt with challenges concerning the freezing of the accounts and said the TMC could operate them only to the extent permitted under the existing court orders.
Holding that the July 9 arrangement sufficiently addressed the interim situation, the court said no further order was necessary. The TMC said it would contest the FIR on merits.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.