Trinamool Congress accuses Indian government of political targeting after bank accounts frozen

India's Trinamool Congress has accused the federal government of using investigative agencies for political purposes after authorities froze bank accounts.

India’s Trinamool Congress has accused the federal government of using investigative agencies for political purposes after authorities froze bank accounts linked to the party as part of a money laundering investigation. The action has intensified tensions between the opposition party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, with the Trinamool Congress calling the move unfair and politically driven.

The Enforcement Directorate, India’s financial crimes investigation agency, announced that it is examining alleged financial transactions involving the party. According to investigators, around 46 million dollars held in accounts linked to the Trinamool Congress has been frozen during the probe.

The agency claims that between April 2023 and June 2026, about 16.8 million dollars was transferred from accounts connected to the party to an aviation company and related businesses. Investigators allege the money was used to buy a private jet and a helicopter, which were later leased back to the party.

The Trinamool Congress has firmly denied all allegations. Party leaders said every financial transaction had been properly declared to the relevant authorities and insisted there had been no misuse of funds. In a statement, the party described the freezing of its bank accounts as an illegal and politically motivated action aimed at weakening the opposition.

The party further accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of repeatedly using federal agencies to pressure political rivals. It argued that such actions damage democratic institutions and undermine fair political competition by giving the ruling party an unfair advantage.

The latest dispute comes amid longstanding criticism from opposition parties and human rights organisations, which have accused the Modi government of relying on law enforcement agencies to investigate political opponents. Government critics argue that these investigations often target opposition leaders during periods of heightened political competition.

The Enforcement Directorate has rejected accusations of political interference and maintains that its investigations are carried out according to the law. The Bharatiya Janata Party has also repeatedly stated that anti corruption cases are handled independently and without political influence.

Several prominent opposition leaders have faced legal action in recent years. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested in 2024 over allegations that his government accepted kickbacks during the allocation of liquor licences. Kejriwal denied the accusations and spent several months in jail before being released.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren also faced corruption charges in 2024 and was taken into custody as part of a separate investigation. Like Kejriwal, Soren rejected all allegations and claimed the case against him was politically motivated.

The Trinamool Congress was one of India’s most influential regional parties and governed the eastern state of West Bengal for 15 years before losing power to the Bharatiya Janata Party in elections held earlier this year. The latest investigation has added another chapter to the ongoing political rivalry between the two parties.

As the inquiry continues, the case is expected to remain a major political issue, with the opposition demanding greater transparency and accusing the government of misusing state institutions. Meanwhile, investigators say the probe will continue as they examine the financial transactions and determine whether any laws were violated.