Former West Bengal Minister Indranil Sen Arrested in Fake Durga Puja Pass Scam

Kolkata, November 4 (Daily Kiran) : Indranil Sen, a former tourism minister of West Bengal, was arrested on Wednesday evening by Kolkata police. His arrest is part of an investigation into an alleged scam involving fake Durga Puja passes related to UNESCO-recognized tours.

Investigators have accused Sen and his wife, Madhuchanda Sen, of irregularities in the sale of these fraudulent passes. Preliminary estimates suggest that the transactions could involve around ₹60 crore. Earlier that day, Sen appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is conducting a parallel investigation into the matter.

During his questioning at the ED’s Salt Lake office, Kolkata police and Bidhannagar city police were stationed outside the premises. After the ED’s inquiry concluded, police took Sen into custody and transported him to the Kolkata police headquarters at Lalbazar. Sources indicate that the former minister was allegedly uncooperative during the investigation.

Following the rejection of his plea for anticipatory bail by a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court earlier this month, Sen had filed a petition for anticipatory bail in the Supreme Court. However, as the Supreme Court was closed for a week, the hearing could not take place. Before the court could convene, Sen was arrested by Kolkata police.

The investigation was triggered by a complaint filed at the Bowbazar police station. Subsequently, the ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) and took over the investigation. Last month, the central agency conducted raids at several locations, including Sen’s residence, the premises of some relatives, and the office of an event manager linked to the case. The agency has also questioned Sen twice during its investigation.

Fearing arrest, Sen first sought anticipatory bail through his lawyer from the Calcutta High Court. The court heard the petition on October 15 but ultimately dismissed it. Earlier this month, the ED released a statement mentioning the name of West Bengal’s former Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, in connection with a transaction involving Sen’s company, Octave Records. The agency claims that approximately ₹30 lakh was allegedly transferred to Banerjee through banking channels, although Sen contends that the payment was made as a royalty.