Former West Bengal Minister Indranil Sen Arrested in Alleged Durga Puja Pass Scam
Indranil Sen, ex-West Bengal minister, faces multiple charges in a scam involving fake Durga Puja passes linked to UNESCO.
Kolkata, October 29 (Daily Kiran) : Kolkata police have filed charges against Indranil Sen, a former West Bengal minister turned politician and singer, under seven sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). His arrest on Wednesday relates to an alleged scam involving fake passes for UNESCO-recognized Durga Puja festivities.
A senior police official revealed that the charges include criminal breach of trust, forgery of documents, and criminal conspiracy, among others. Specifically, sections 316, 336(2), 336(3), 338, 318, 61(2), and 340(2) are cited in the case.
Initial investigations indicate that substantial financial irregularities occurred between 2022 and 2025 through an organization called ‘Mass Art Society,’ owned by Sen’s wife, Madhuchhanda Sen. The inquiry suggests that Sen may have exploited his influence to extract large sums from various organizations under the guise of UNESCO and Durga Puja celebrations.
A police officer stated, “Our investigation team is looking into other aspects of this significant financial fraud, which may involve the creation and use of shell companies to maneuver funds.”
Following his arrest, Sen was taken to Kolkata police headquarters in Lalbazar for questioning, which continued late into the night based on documents seized during the investigation. Sources claim that during the interrogation, Sen attempted to evade difficult questions or provided contradictory answers. These allegations are part of an ongoing investigation, and their veracity is yet to be determined.
Both Kolkata police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are conducting separate inquiries into the alleged scam linked to the UNESCO-recognized Durga Puja tour passes. Investigators are examining the financial transactions involved, the roles of different organizations, and the possible use of shell companies to facilitate the irregularities. They aim to uncover how these discrepancies occurred and whether any other individuals or entities were implicated.
