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Bengal: SIT arrests second accused in UNESCO-tagged fake…

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activeCyber Crime / Digital ArrestTelangana

Bengal: SIT arrests second accused in UNESCO-tagged fake Durga Puja pass scam

A special investigation team of the Kolkata Police arrested a senior corporate official in connection with an alleged multi-crore fake Durga Puja pass scam. The scheme reportedly involved marketing and selling unauthorized passes for UNESCO-tagged festival tours through a corporate entity named "Mass Art". Investigators allege that a former state tourism minister and the newly arrested executive established a complex network to monetize these festival passes.

State

Telangana

First reported

November 2026

Agency involved

Kolkata Police Special Investigation Team and Enforcement Directorate

Arrests

Two individuals arrested

Status

Under active investigation with suspects in custody and under interrogation

The full story

Everything you need to know about this case, in one place.

Police sources stated that "Mass Art" was officially headed by the former minister's wife, though it functioned as the brainchild of the former minister and the arrested corporate official. Both the wife and the couple's daughter, along with linked corporate entities, have been placed under financial and administrative scrutiny. The former minister is currently in police custody undergoing daily interrogations by law enforcement.

Authorities have questioned a total of nine individuals in connection with the fraudulent operation. While the former minister's wife secured anticipatory bail from the Calcutta High Court and remains out of custody after multiple rounds of questioning, the latest arrested official had been absconding since the initial arrest last week. Parallel probes into the matter are being conducted by both the Kolkata Police and the Enforcement Directorate.

Not yet reported: The articles do not specify the exact total financial loss suffered by buyers or the specific number of fake passes sold.

Where the case stands

The latest position in the reports we read.

The former minister and a corporate official are in custody, while other family members face ongoing interrogation and scrutiny as authorities prepare for upcoming court hearings.

Who was affected

Described in general terms; we do not name victims.

Members of the public who purchased fake Durga Puja festival tour passes believing them to be authentic.

Timeline

Key dates as reported, oldest first.

Last weekA former West Bengal Tourism Minister was arrested, and the second accused went into hiding.

Wednesday nightThe Special Investigation Team arrested the second accused, a senior corporate official linked to the corporate entity.

November 10The former minister is scheduled to be produced before a lower court in Kolkata.

How the scam worked

The method described in the reports.

The accused allegedly marketed and sold fake passes for UNESCO-tagged festival tours.
A corporate entity named "Mass Art" was utilized to channel and sell the unauthorized festival passes.
The masterminds behind the operation established a complex network to monetize the scheme under the guise of official festival access.

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Sources and further reading

Optional. The full story is above; these are the original reports it was prepared from.

telanganatoday.comOriginal report Telangana Todaytelanganatoday.com Bengal: SIT arrests second accused in UNESCO-tagged fake Durga Puja pass scam - Telangana TodayTelangana Today · 5 Nov 2026

Prepared by Report Scams, with the help of AI, from the published reports listed above. Check those reports for the latest. Cases here describe allegations. An FIR, arrest or charge is not a finding of guilt. To report a mistake, or to ask for a correction or removal, write to our Grievance Officer. See also the Safe Posting policy.