Former Bengal Minister Indranil Sen Arrested in Durga Puja Pass Case
Former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen was taken into custody by the Kolkata Police on Wednesday evening, October 28, 2026, in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities surrounding Durga Puja entry pass distribution. Law enforcement personnel from the Kolkata Detective Department Special Cell detained the former minister following the rejection of his anticipatory bail application by the Calcutta High Court, after he had avoided summonses issued by municipal investigators and the Enforcement Directorate. Prior to his detention, federal investigators questioned Sen at the Enforcement Directorate regional office located at the CGO Complex in Salt Lake regarding festival sponsorship receipts.
The criminal investigation centers on MassArt, an organization established following Durga Puja's inscription as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage practice in 2021. According to the formal police complaint lodged at the Bow Bazaar Police Station, organizers falsely represented the cultural society as a UNESCO-sponsored initiative to collect substantial financial contributions through unauthorized pass sales. The complainant, Jaydeep Mukherjee, asserted that Sen leveraged his administrative authority and misused international cultural endorsements to secure substantial funds from corporate entities and citizens.
According to the complaint, preview show tickets covering 24 selected Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata were sold to the public at Rs 4,000 each through the Mahanirban Road Mass Art Society.
Financial Scrutiny and Corporate Account Transfers
The agency's preliminary assessment estimates the scale of financial irregularities between Rs 50 crore and Rs 60 crore, generated through commercial pass operations during the annual festival.
Banking records reviewed by the agency revealed that roughly ₹30 lakh moved out of an account held by Octave Records, an entity under Sen's control, through suspect channels. Investigative authorities have searched multiple residential and commercial properties associated with the former minister, examining transactional records linked to family members and corporate associates named in the complaint.
Political Repercussions and Executive Governance
The detention represents the second high-profile arrest of a former cabinet member from the Mamata Banerjee administration, following the earlier apprehension of Sujit Bose by central agencies. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated that Sen had been under official investigation for an extended duration and alleged that proceeds from the fraudulent activities were shared with previous administration officials.
In contrast, Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee defended Sen, claiming that law enforcement actions represented politically motivated targeting of opposition figures who refused to align with the governing party. The arrest has intensified partisan debate across West Bengal regarding the administration of cultural heritage festivals and statutory oversight of public festival funding.