Kolkata, September 29 (Daily Kiran) : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted raids on multiple properties belonging to former West Bengal Tourism Minister Indranil Sen. This operation, which began early Tuesday morning, is part of an investigation into allegations of money laundering.
Indranil Sen, who transitioned from being a singer to a politician, is accused, along with his wife Madhuchanda Sen, of misusing the UNESCO name to illegally sell tickets ahead of the Durga Puja festival.
Reports indicate that a team of ED officials targeted Sen’s residence in the Kasba area of South Kolkata. Simultaneously, separate teams executed searches at ten locations across the city, including the former minister’s home.
Other areas involved in the ED’s operation include Hindustan Park and Highland Park, where the agency is also investigating the homes of Sen’s relatives. The Highland Park location is reportedly linked to a businessman in the event management sector.
The allegations suggest that fake passes were sold under the guise of UNESCO-tagged Durga Puja tours. Initial estimates indicate a possible embezzlement of around ₹60 crore in this case.
A complaint was lodged in June at the Bowbazar police station against Indranil Sen, his wife Madhuchanda, and an organization named ‘Mass Art,’ with which Madhuchanda is affiliated. The complaint was filed by Jaydeep Mukherjee on behalf of the international organization, claiming that the organization falsely presented itself as UNESCO’s official partner in promoting Kolkata’s Durga Puja.
The complaint asserts that ‘Mass Art’ was established just six months after UNESCO recognized Kolkata’s Durga Puja in 2021. The organization allegedly sold tickets for 24 high-priced “preview shows” of the festival, with prices ranging from ₹1,749 to ₹5,499.
Despite claims that UNESCO selected the 24 pandals for these shows, no evidence has corroborated this assertion. Investigations reveal that registration for these passes increased significantly, with 19,000 applicants in 2022, 34,000 in 2023, and a projected 61,000 in 2024.
While Kolkata police initially began the investigation, the ED later took over, focusing on the money laundering aspect of the case.
Leave a Comment