Title: TMC Paid Over 2X Average Rate for Carewell Jet: ED

ED Examines TMC-Carewell Aviation Payments

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating payments made by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to Carewell Aviation India Pvt Ltd for the use of a private business jet. According to the agency, TMC paid substantially higher rates for the aircraft compared with the average amount Carewell charged its other clients.

The investigation forms part of a broader probe registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), following an FIR filed by the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police.

TMC Allegedly Paid ₹16.56 Lakh Per Flying Hour

According to details cited in the ED investigation, TMC paid an average of approximately ₹16.56 lakh per flying hour for the Embraer Legacy 600 aircraft operated by Carewell Aviation.

By comparison, the same operator reportedly received an average of around ₹7.68 lakh per flying hour from other clients during the period under review.

This means the rate paid by TMC was approximately 2.15 times the average rate received from Carewell's other customers.

Payments Increased Sharply in 2026

The investigation has also highlighted differences in the effective rate paid by TMC over different years.

In 2023, TMC reportedly used the aircraft for around 12 hours and paid approximately ₹2.12 crore. In 2024, usage increased to about 82 hours, with payments of around ₹12.74 crore.

In 2025, the party reportedly used the aircraft for approximately 96 hours and paid another ₹12.74 crore.

The biggest increase was reported in 2026. TMC allegedly used the aircraft for only around 34 hours but paid approximately ₹9.56 crore, resulting in an effective rate of about ₹28.04 lakh per flying hour.

₹37.17 Crore Paid Over Four Years

ED-linked figures indicate that TMC's total use of the aircraft between 2023 and 2026 amounted to roughly 224 hours and 27 minutes, for which Carewell received about ₹37.17 crore.

During the same period, the aircraft was reportedly used by other clients for around 1,458 hours, generating approximately ₹112 crore for Carewell. The average rate for those customers was around ₹7.68 lakh per hour.

ED Investigates Broader Financial Transactions

The jet payments are part of a wider financial investigation involving TMC and Carewell Aviation.

Earlier reports said the ED was examining transactions worth around ₹160 crore transferred from TMC to Carewell and related entities. The agency has been looking into the purchase of an Embraer business jet and an Agusta VIP helicopter and their subsequent use by the party.

Investigators are also examining the flow of funds between TMC, Carewell and associated entities to determine whether the transactions had a genuine commercial purpose.

Questions Over Aircraft Utilisation

Another issue being examined is TMC's reported use of aircraft and helicopters from other operators despite having a longer-term arrangement with Carewell Aviation.

The ED is looking at whether payments made under the Carewell arrangement were proportionate to actual aircraft utilisation and prevailing charter rates.

TMC Has Denied the Allegations

The allegations remain part of an ongoing investigation. TMC has previously rejected the allegations and described the ED action as politically motivated.

The agency's investigation will determine whether the financial arrangements involved any violation of the PMLA or other laws.

What Happens Next?

The ED is expected to continue examining contracts, invoices, aircraft utilisation records and the movement of funds between the parties involved.

The key question for investigators is whether the higher charter rates and related financial transactions can be explained by legitimate commercial arrangements or whether they indicate financial irregularities.

Conclusion

The ED's latest findings have brought renewed scrutiny on TMC's financial dealings with Carewell Aviation. The agency alleges that the party paid more than twice the average rate charged by Carewell to other clients for the same jet, with the effective rate rising significantly in 2026.

However, the allegations remain under investigation, and any legal conclusions w