Former West Bengal tourism minister Indranil Sen was arrested on Wednesday after being questioned by Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials for at least four hours. A team from Kolkata Police subsequently took him to Lalbazar, the city police headquarters, for further questioning in connection with alleged financial irregularities involving Durga Puja preview shows and the sale of entry passes.
The ED and Kolkata Police are conducting separate investigations into alleged irregularities involving MassArt Society, an organisation reportedly associated with Sen and his wife, Madhuchhanda Sen. The ED's preliminary assessment suggests that the alleged financial irregularities could amount to Rs 50-60 crore.
Sen, who served as tourism and culture minister in the previous Trinamool Congress government, was questioned at the ED's office in the CGO Complex in Salt Lake on Wednesday afternoon. The agency had questioned him several times earlier as part of the investigation.
Several officers from Kolkata Police's Detective Department were waiting outside the ED office before taking Sen to Lalbazar for further questioning.
Following Sen's arrest, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the former minister had not acted alone and claimed that the alleged scam could not have occurred without the knowledge of former chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
“Indranil and Mamata used to travel in the same car and sing songs together,” Adhikari said, suggesting that Sen was not the only beneficiary of the alleged proceeds and implying that Banerjee could also have been involved.
Targeting Sen, a singer-turned-politician and former MLA from Chandannagar, Adhikari said, “Mamata Banerjee and Indranil Sen complemented each other. They are now facing the consequences. This is just tea and biscuits; breakfast is yet to come. All institutional thieves must go to jail. In due course, even bigger names will be targeted.”
In June, Kolkata Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Sen, his wife Madhuchhanda and associates of MassArt Society following a complaint filed by Jaydeep Mukherjee at Bowbazar police station.
The FIR was registered under Sections 316(2), 318(4), 336(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The ED subsequently initiated a separate investigation into the matter.
The case centres on alleged financial irregularities in MassArt Society's management of Durga Puja preview shows. The accused are alleged to have collected substantial sums from members of the public between 2022 and 2025 by selling passes that promised privileged access to Durga Puja celebrations.
They are also accused of portraying the organisation as being sponsored by UNESCO and using the collected money for personal benefit.
According to the complainant, the organisation created the impression that it had a direct association with or approval from UNESCO, despite not having signed a commercial agreement with the United Nations body.
MassArt Society was established shortly after Durga Puja received UNESCO recognition as an intangible cultural heritage in 2021, PTI reported, citing sources.
According to the ED, Madhuchhanda Sen serves as the organisation's president, Dhrubajyoti Bose is its secretary, Sayantan Mitra is its vice-president and Ranjan Chatterjee is its treasurer.
Sen had previously approached the Calcutta High Court seeking anticipatory bail, but the court rejected his plea. He subsequently challenged the order in the Supreme Court.
The ED and Kolkata Police are continuing their respective investigations into the alleged collection and use of funds through Durga Puja preview shows and privileged-entry passes.
