An Indian opposition party on Thursday accused federal investigators of carrying out a “politically motivated” action after millions of dollars in its bank accounts were frozen as part of a money laundering investigation.
Critics and rights organisations have previously accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of using state agencies to pressure political opponents, allegations the government has rejected.
India’s top financial crime investigation agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), said on Wednesday that it was probing alleged financial irregularities involving the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which governed West Bengal for 15 years before the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) defeated it in May.
According to the agency, around $16.8 million was allegedly transferred from TMC-linked bank accounts to an aviation company and related firms between April 2023 and June 2026.
Investigators claimed the money was used to purchase a private aircraft and a helicopter, which were later leased back to the political party.
The TMC rejected the allegations, saying that all its financial dealings had been “fully and transparently disclosed” to authorities.
“The Enforcement Directorate’s decision to freeze the party’s bank accounts is a politically motivated act. We strongly condemn this arbitrary and illegal action,” the party said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The misuse of investigative agencies to target political opponents has become a hallmark of the BJP’s politics and represents a serious assault on democratic institutions and the principles of a level playing field.”
In recent years, several opposition leaders in India have faced investigations and legal proceedings, including former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Kejriwal was jailed for several months in 2024 after being arrested over allegations that his administration received illegal payments linked to liquor licence allocations. He has denied the accusations.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, another opposition figure, was also arrested and imprisoned in 2024 over corruption allegations, which he rejected.
The BJP has maintained that corruption investigations are conducted independently and according to legal procedures, denying claims that law enforcement agencies are being used for political purposes.
