Full Breakdown
Indranil Sen Money-Laundering Probe: Tenders, Durga Puja Preview Shows and a Transfer to Mamata Banerjee
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Allegations and Agency Actions
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has opened a money-laundering investigation into former West Bengal minister of state for information and cultural affairs Indranil Sen. The agency alleges that, while in the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, Sen awarded tourism-and-culture department tenders worth over Rs 85 crore to companies owned by close associates Dhrubajyoti Bose and Dipesh Roy. The ED further claims cash deposits exceeding Rs 3.8 crore were made into the bank accounts of Sen’s proprietorship, Octave Records, and that nearly Rs 30 lakh was transferred from those accounts to former chief minister Mamata Banerjee—a payment Sen described as a “royalty”.
The probe centres on the Mahanirban Road Mass Art Society (MassArt), headed by Sen’s wife Madhuchhanda Sen. According to the ED, MassArt marketed “Durga Puja preview shows” as a UNESCO-sponsored activity, sold tickets priced between Rs 1,749 and Rs 5,499 for events at 24 pandals, and collected Rs 50–60 crore (or, in other statements, over Rs 85 crore in tender value). The agency alleges the proceeds were siphoned through cash withdrawals or recorded as “miscellaneous expenses”.
Background & Context
Durga Puja, an annual cultural festival in West Bengal, received UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage tag in 2021. Following that recognition, private entities began organising “preview shows” to showcase pandal installations before the main festival. MassArt positioned its preview programmes as charitable or UNESCO-linked events, attracting public payments for privileged entry.
Timeline
- September 29 – ED’s Kolkata Zone-I conducted searches at 15 premises, including Sen’s residence and offices linked to MassArt and his associates.
- October 1 – The ED publicly stated that Sen had awarded tenders worth over Rs 85 crore to entities owned by his close associates and that Rs 30 lakh had been transferred to Mamata Banerjee as a royalty.
Data & Statistics
- Tender value: > Rs 85 crore.
- Cash deposits in Octave Records: > Rs 3.8 crore.
- Transfer to Banerjee: ~ Rs 30 lakh.
- Ticket price range: Rs 1,749 – Rs 5,499.
- Tickets issued (2023-2024): > 1 lakh.
- Pandals covered: 24.
Official Statements & Responses
The ED’s statement on X outlined the alleged cash flow, tender awards, and the purported misuse of UNESCO branding. The Calcutta High Court is hearing an anticipatory bail petition filed by Sen and Madhuchhanda Sen; Justice Tirthankar Ghosh has scheduled further hearings.
Criticism & Opposition
Kunal Ghosh, TMC spokesperson and Beleghata MLA, dismissed the ED’s claims as politically motivated, asserting that the payment from Octave Records was a legitimate, taxed royalty.
Saket Gokhale, another TMC spokesperson, argued that most ED cases target opposition leaders, suggesting partisan bias.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the total amount collected through MassArt’s activities. Some cite Rs 50–60 crore from the public, while the ED references tenders exceeding Rs 85 crore and “over one lakh tickets” generating “substantial” proceeds. The precise relationship between tender value and ticket revenue remains unclear.
The ED alleges the Rs 30 lakh transfer to Banerjee was part of the laundering scheme, but its press release does not explicitly label the transaction as criminal.
What’s Next
The ED will continue examining seized documents to trace fund flows and determine whether any proceeds constitute “proceeds of crime”. Anticipatory bail proceedings before Justice Ghosh are expected to conclude in the coming weeks, after which the court may decide on further judicial oversight.