Former Minister Indraneel Sen Arrested in Kolkata Over Durga Puja Pass Scam

Kolkata, October 29 (Daily Kiran) : Kolkata police have arrested former West Bengal minister Indraneel Sen in connection with a scam involving Durga Puja passes linked to UNESCO-recognized festival tours. Sen was taken into custody on Wednesday evening and is set to appear in a lower court on Thursday, where prosecutors will request his detention for further questioning.

Following his arrest, a police source revealed that Sen would first undergo a medical examination at the Kolkata police headquarters before being presented in court. Investigators believe it is crucial to interrogate Sen in detail, not only regarding the Durga Puja pass scam but also for potential financial irregularities tied to his tenure in the previous state cabinet.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari emphasized that other influential individuals benefiting from the scams associated with Sen would also face consequences. Although he did not name anyone, Adhikari appeared to indirectly target former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, stating, “Sen exploited his ministerial position and profited through his close ties with the former chief minister.”

The Chief Minister pointed out that Sen was not the only one who amassed wealth during his time in office, suggesting that the investigation could reach higher levels of government. “Just wait and see,” he added.

Both the Kolkata police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are conducting parallel investigations into the Durga Puja pass scam. Sen was arrested after extensive questioning at the ED’s Salt Lake office in Kolkata.

Earlier this month, the ED released a statement mentioning a transaction involving Sen’s company, Octave Records, and linked it to Banerjee. Allegedly, around 3 million rupees were transferred to Banerjee through banking channels, a claim Sen disputes, asserting the payments were for royalties.

Additionally, a judicial commission established by the state government to investigate institutional corruption during the previous Trinamool Congress administration has also begun examining the case involving Sen. This commission is looking into financial irregularities amounting to millions related to the tender processes in the state’s Information and Cultural Affairs Department, where Sen served as a minister. This inquiry is separate from the money laundering investigation being conducted by the ED.