DURGA PUJA PASS SCANDAL: FORMER BENGAL MINISTER INDRANIL SEN ARRESTED AS ₹60-CRORE PROBE DEEPENS
October 28, 2026
KOLKATA, OCTOBER 28, 2026 — Former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen was arrested by Kolkata Police on Wednesday following questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money-laundering investigation into alleged financial irregularities surrounding commercial Durga Puja preview programmes and the sale of privileged entry passes. The case centres on allegations that an organisation associated with Sen’s wife collected between ₹50 crore and ₹60 crore from the public while allegedly misrepresenting its links with UNESCO.
Sen, who previously served as tourism and culture minister in the Trinamool Congress government, appeared at the ED’s office at the Central Government Offices complex in Salt Lake with documents relating to the investigation. He had already faced several rounds of questioning as investigators examined the financial activities of the Mahanirban Road Mass Art Society, commonly known as MassArt.
The organisation is headed by Sen’s wife, Madhuchhanda Sen, who serves as its president. Other office-bearers identified by the ED include secretary Dhrubajyoti Bose, vice-president Sayantan Mitra and treasurer Ranjan Chatterjee.
INVESTIGATION CENTRES ON ALLEGED MISUSE OF UNESCO’S NAME
At the heart of the investigation is the allegation that MassArt collected money between 2022 and 2025 by offering members of the public access to exclusive Durga Puja preview shows and privileged entry to selected pandals. Investigators are examining claims that promotional activities created the impression that the organisation was directly associated with, or sponsored by, UNESCO.
Durga Puja was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021. The subsequent investigation is examining whether the international recognition was invoked to promote commercial programmes without the authorisation or commercial agreement allegedly implied to prospective customers.
According to the allegations, the organisation sold passes for special access to selected puja pandals and collected substantial sums from visitors. The ED is investigating whether the money raised through these programmes was properly accounted for and whether any portion was diverted for personal benefit.
The alleged financial irregularities are estimated by the agency to involve between ₹50 crore and ₹60 crore. This figure represents a preliminary estimate associated with the investigation; it is not a judicial finding that the entire amount was unlawfully obtained.
POLICE COMPLAINT TRIGGERED THE CASE
The matter originated with a complaint lodged by Jaideep Mukherjee at Kolkata’s Bowbazar police station. An FIR was subsequently registered, providing the basis for further investigation by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The central agency has examined the organisation’s management, the collection and movement of funds, and the financial relationships involving Sen, his wife and other associates. Investigators have also conducted searches at multiple locations linked to the former minister, including his residence in Kasba and a garden house in Singur, in Hooghly district.
The searches and questioning form part of an effort to establish how the proceeds from the preview programmes were collected, distributed and spent. The investigation is also examining the organisation’s representations concerning UNESCO and the basis on which the commercial events were promoted.
LEGAL CHALLENGES AND POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS
Sen had earlier approached the Calcutta High Court seeking anticipatory bail. His plea was rejected, following which he challenged the order in the Supreme Court.
His arrest marks a significant escalation in a case that has drawn attention because it involves a former state minister and allegations concerning the commercial use of Durga Puja, one of Bengal’s most prominent cultural traditions.
The case also raises broader questions about the use of public confidence in internationally recognised cultural heritage to promote private commercial activities. Any determination of whether UNESCO’s name was improperly used, whether money was misappropriated and who bears criminal responsibility will depend on the evidence gathered by investigators and the subsequent legal proceedings.
THE QUESTION OF ACCOUNTABILITY
The allegations concern more than the sale of entry passes. They place the spotlight on the relationship between cultural institutions, commercial operators and the public, particularly when promotional claims invoke the reputation of an international organisation.
For investigators, the central questions are whether the representations made to customers were accurate, whether the organisation possessed the permissions it allegedly claimed, and whether the money collected was used for legitimate purposes.
For Sen and the other individuals under scrutiny, the legal process will determine their respective roles and responsibilities. An arrest does not, by itself, establish guilt, and the allegations must be tested through the appropriate judicial process.
As the investigation proceeds, the case is likely to remain under close public scrutiny, with its outcome potentially shaping the debate over transparency, financial accountability and the commercialisation of Bengal’s cultural heritage.
