Kolkata/New Delhi

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out searches at multiple locations in Kolkata as part of its investigation into the alleged routing of suspicious funds through bank accounts linked to the Trinamool Congress (TMC), officials said.

According to officials, raids were conducted at around five premises across the West Bengal capital. Preliminary findings indicate that transactions exceeding Rs 150 crore were allegedly routed through aviation and travel-related companies.

Among the locations searched were the premises of Kolkata-based charter aircraft leasing company Carewell Aviation, residences and offices linked to its directors, and a purported electoral trust. The company has not yet responded to queries regarding the searches.

The ED action comes weeks after the Kolkata Police froze debit operations in three bank accounts of the TMC following complaints by rebel party MLAs, who sought an investigation into the source of the funds amid an ongoing internal dispute over control of the party's finances.

Officials estimate that the frozen accounts together hold nearly Rs 440 crore.

On July 2, while hearing a petition filed by the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the TMC challenging the freezing of the accounts, the Calcutta High Court directed the private bank concerned to disclose the amount deposited in those accounts.

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The developments also come ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament, scheduled to begin on July 20. According to earlier reports citing sources, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is expected to decide on matters related to defections within the Trinamool Congress before the session commences. The issue arose after the parent party sought the disqualification of rebel Members of Parliament.