ED Probes TMC's ₹5.22 Crore Advance for Aviation Services

ED Examines ₹5.22 Crore TMC Aviation Advance

The Enforcement Directorate is examining advance payments totalling ₹5.22 crore made by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for aviation services covering July, August and September 2026.

According to people familiar with the investigation cited by The Economic Times, the agency's account analysis found that the services covered by these payments had not been availed at the time of its review. The agency is examining the transaction as part of a broader investigation into the party's aviation expenditure and the movement and utilisation of its funds.

An advance payment by itself does not establish financial wrongdoing. The ED's investigation is focused on understanding the contractual arrangements, source of funds and eventual utilisation of the money.

What Is the ED Investigating?

The ₹5.22 crore payment is one component of a wider ED probe into financial transactions between TMC and aviation companies.

The agency is examining arrangements involving Carewell Aviation India Pvt Ltd and other aviation service providers. Its investigation includes aircraft and helicopter charter agreements, security deposits, payments for aviation services and the movement of funds between entities associated with the aviation business.

The investigation is intended to establish the source, routing and end-use of funds and determine whether the financial arrangements complied with applicable law.

Payments Covered Three Months

The ₹5.22 crore advance related to aviation services for July, August and September 2026.

According to the ED's account analysis cited by ET, the corresponding services had not been availed at the time the agency examined the accounts.

The agency is therefore looking at the commercial terms governing the advance and how the payment was subsequently treated in the party's accounts.

It is important to distinguish between an advance payment and an allegation of financial irregularity. Companies and organisations can make legitimate advance payments under contractual arrangements, and the ED's investigation will determine the significance of this particular transaction.

Carewell Aviation at the Centre of the Probe

A significant part of the investigation concerns transactions between TMC and Carewell Aviation.

According to the ED, TMC transferred approximately ₹162.09 crore to Carewell Group entities between July 2021 and June 2026. The agency is examining the payments in the context of aircraft and helicopter charter arrangements entered into by the party.

The agency is also examining the movement of funds within the Carewell group after receiving payments from TMC.

₹88.5 Crore in Refundable Deposits

The ED's analysis includes two major refundable security deposits connected with aviation arrangements.

Under an aircraft charter agreement executed in April 2023, TMC reportedly paid an interest-free refundable security deposit of ₹60 crore.

A separate helicopter charter agreement executed in March 2025 involved another refundable deposit of ₹28.5 crore.

Together, the two deposits amounted to ₹88.5 crore, according to the ED's account analysis cited by ET.

The agency is examining the commercial arrangements behind these deposits and the subsequent movement of funds.

Funds Moved to a Related Aviation Entity

The ED is also examining the movement of funds from Carewell entities to another related company.

According to the agency's analysis, approximately ₹133.84 crore received by Carewell was subsequently provided as inter-corporate loans to newly incorporated Carewell Flyjet IFSC Pvt Ltd in Ahmedabad's GIFT City.

The funds were reportedly linked to the acquisition of an Embraer Legacy 600 aircraft and an Agusta 109 Grand New helicopter.

The ED is examining whether these transactions formed part of the broader financial arrangements under investigation.

Another Aircraft Deal Also Under Scrutiny

The ED's investigation extends beyond Carewell Aviation.

The agency has examined an arrangement involving a Falcon 2000 chartered from Windborne Aviation.

According to the ED's account analysis cited by ET, TMC agreed to a minimum commitment of 150 flying hours over 60 days but ultimately used the aircraft for approximately 11–12 hours while paying around ₹9.09 crore.

The transaction is being examined as part of the agency's wider effort to understand TMC's aviation expenditure and the commercial terms of its charter arrangements.

The existence of a high payment relative to hours used does not, by itself, establish that the transaction was unlawful; the relevant contractual terms and other circumstances remain subject to investigation.

ED Has Frozen Six TMC Bank Accounts

The financial investigation has also resulted in action against TMC's bank accounts.

According to ET, the ED has frozen six bank accounts belonging to the Trinamool Congress, with balances aggregating approximately ₹440 crore, under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

TMC has challenged the ED's action.

The freezing of accounts and the ongoing investigation are separate from any eventual determination of whether the transactions under scrutiny constitute violations of law.

TMC Disputes the ED's Allegations

The Trinamool Congress has challenged the ED's actions and disputed the allegations made by the agency.

The party's position is important because the transactions are currently part of an ongoing investigation rather than a completed judicial finding.

The ED will have to establish the factual and legal basis of its allegations through the investigative and legal process.

Why Advance Payments Are Being Examined

Advance payments are common in commercial arrangements, particularly in industries where aircraft, helicopters and other specialised services need to be reserved in advance.

The ED's interest in the ₹5.22 crore payment therefore relates not simply to the fact that it was an advance, but to the broader context in which the payment was made.

The agency is examining:

• The contractual terms of the aviation arrangements

• The source of TMC's funds

• The services for which payments were made

• Whether the services were subsequently utilised

• The movement of money between related entities

• The commercial terms of aircraft and helicopter charters

• The eventual end-use of the funds

These factors will help determine the significance of the transaction within the wider investigation.

TMC's Aviation Spending Under Wider Scrutiny

The latest development comes after the ED began examining TMC's aviation expenditure more broadly.

The agency has looked at payments to several aviation companies, aircraft charter arrangements and the movement of funds through companies connected with the aviation sector.

The investigation is part of a wider financial probe concerning alleged routing and utilisation of party funds.

What the ED Has to Establish

For the investigation to result in any legal conclusion, the agency would need to establish the facts surrounding the transactions and demonstrate how they relate to any alleged offence.

Among the questions being examined are whether payments were made under genuine commercial contracts, whether services were provided or intended to be provided, and whether money subsequently moved through related entities in a manner relevant to the investigation.

The answers will depend on documentary evidence, account records, contracts and other investigative material.

Key Points at a Glance

IssueDetailsAgencyEnforcement DirectorateParty involvedTrinamool CongressAdvance under examination₹5.22 croreService periodJuly–September 2026Aviation company under wider probeCarewell AviationTMC transfers to Carewell Group cited by EDAbout ₹162.09 croreRefundable deposits cited₹60 crore + ₹28.5 croreTotal deposits₹88.5 croreRelated funds examined₹133.84 croreTMC bank accounts frozenSixAggregate balances citedAbout ₹440 croreTMC positionHas challenged ED action and disputed allegationsCurrent statusInvestigation ongoing

Why the Investigation Matters

Political parties routinely incur expenditure on travel, campaign logistics and other operational activities. Aviation arrangements can involve substantial sums because aircraft and helicopters are expensive to charter and often require advance commitments.

The ED's investigation is therefore examining whether the financial arrangements involving TMC were consistent with the underlying contracts and whether the movement of funds raises any legal concerns.

The outcome will depend on the evidence gathered during the investigation.

What Happens Next?

The ED is expected to continue examining TMC's financial records, aviation contracts and transactions involving Carewell and other aviation companies.

The agency will also examine the source and end-use of funds and the relationship between different entities involved in the transactions.

TMC, meanwhile, can challenge the agency's actions through the appropriate legal process.

No final judicial finding has been made on the allegations described in the investigation.

Bottom Line

The Enforcement Directorate is examining a ₹5.22 crore advance payment made by the Trinamool Congress for aviation services covering July, August and September 2026. According to the agency's account analysis cited by ET, the services covered by the advance had not been availed when the accounts were reviewed.

The payment forms part of a much wider investigation into TMC's financial dealings with aviation companies, particularly Carewell Aviation. The ED is examining aircraft and helicopter charter agreements, refundable deposits, fund transfers and the movement of money between related entities.

TMC has challenged the ED's actions and disputed the allegations. The investigation remains ongoing, and the transactions under examination should not be treated as evidence of wrongdoing unless established through the legal process.