Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien has slapped the Enforcement Directorate (ED) with a severe dig at the handling of the alleged irregularities in the Ram Temple donation funds.
On X, Derek O’Brien put, “ED freezes 3 bank accounts of TMC with HDFC, when will ED freeze temple funds?” The statement comes amid the controversy over alleged misappropriation of funds at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
His comments came after opposition parties have called for a new probe in the alleged financial irregularities in the temple’s donation system by the judiciary.
The ED has frozen three TMC bank accounts that have deposits worth of about Rs 440 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in recent news on Wednesday. The action was part of an investigation of a potential case of misappropriation involving funds, the agency said.
Under Provision 17(1A) of the PMLA, an action to freeze assets (like bank accounts) can be made when immediate seizure is not practicable and there is a risk that the assets will be transferred or disposed of.
The transfer has further fueled the political conflict between the ruling BJP and the Trinamool Congress and the latter has accused central agencies of taking action selectively and asked for fairness in the matter where financial irregularities were alleged in relation with religious institutions.