Kalighat-TMC can withdraw necessary funds through special officer, HC gives interim relief

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted temporary relief to the Kalighat Trinamool faction in a case involving the freezing of its bank accounts. Justice Saugata Bhattacharya appointed retired judge Subrata Talukder as a special officer to oversee the operation of the disputed accounts. Under this ad-interim mechanism, which will remain active until September 30, the Kalighat Trinamool faction is permitted to withdraw necessary operational funds from the account through the special officer.

The court explicitly directed that only the two designated authorized signatories are allowed to utilize the bank account, and any financial transaction must strictly carry the counter-signature of Justice Subrata Talukder. Furthermore, the High Court ordered the faction to maintain a meticulous record of its daily expenditures and submit regular financial accounts to the bench. The temporary arrangement ensures that day-to-day administrative expenses can be cleared while the primary legal dispute is being resolved.

In contrast, the rebel faction led by Ritabrata Trinamool faced a sharp reprimand from the bench during the court proceedings. Justice Bhattacharya questioned the timing of their complaint, observing that substantial funds were previously withdrawn from the exact same account to contest the general elections without any prior objections. The judge strongly questioned why the petition challenging the account's validity was filed only after the election results were officially declared, expressing dissatisfaction with the petitioner's stance.