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Former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen arrested in…

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activeCyber Crime / Digital ArrestWest Bengal

Former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen arrested in alleged Durga Puja pass scam case

A former West Bengal minister, Indranil Sen, was arrested by Kolkata Police over alleged financial irregularities involving entry passes for Durga Puja preview shows in Kolkata. Investigators claim that an organisation called massArt, headed by the former minister's wife, collected substantial funds from the public by falsely claiming association with a UNESCO-sponsored entity and using its name and logo without approval. Preview show passes for big-budget pujas were allegedly sold at inflated prices ranging from Rs 1,800 to Rs 5,500.

State

West Bengal

First reported

October 2026

Agency involved

Kolkata Police and Enforcement Directorate

Arrests

The former minister Indranil Sen

Charges or sections cited

Sections 316(2), 318(4), 336(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and provisions of the PMLA

Status

The accused was arrested and is facing ongoing investigation by law enforcement agencies.

The full story

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

The Enforcement Directorate launched a money-laundering investigation following a police complaint, estimating the scale of the irregularities between Rs 50 crore and Rs 60 crore. Searches were conducted across 15 locations linked to the accused individuals and entities, including residences and a resort. According to the central agency, large cash deposits were found in bank accounts tied to the former minister and his proprietorship firm, and multiple tourism and cultural ministry tenders worth over Rs 85 crore were allegedly awarded to close associates who subsequently transferred funds to relatives of the accused.

Following summonses by the Enforcement Directorate and subsequent questioning, Kolkata Police arrested the former minister at the central agency's office complex. The case involves multiple named individuals including the former minister, his wife, and associates, and is registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Not yet reported: The reports do not detail the final court outcomes or any formal judicial sentencing for the accused individuals.

Where the case stands

The latest position in the reports we read.

The former minister was arrested by Kolkata Police following hours of questioning by the Enforcement Directorate, and investigations into money laundering and financial irregularities remain ongoing.

Who was affected

Described in general terms; we do not name victims.

Members of the general public who purchased high-priced entry passes for Durga Puja preview shows based on alleged misrepresentations about UNESCO sponsorship.

Timeline

Key dates as reported, oldest first.

JuneA written complaint was lodged at Bowbazar police station against the former minister's wife and her organisation.

SeptemberThe Enforcement Directorate began questioning the former minister in connection with the money-laundering case.

September 29The Enforcement Directorate conducted simultaneous search operations at 15 premises linked to the former minister and other accused individuals.

September 30The former minister was questioned for nearly 10 hours at the Salt Lake CGO Complex office.

WednesdayThe former minister appeared at the Enforcement Directorate office after being summoned and was subsequently arrested by Kolkata Police.

How the scam worked

The method described in the reports.

An organisation headed by the former minister's wife allegedly claimed to be an official partner of a UNESCO-sponsored entity after Durga Puja received UNESCO recognition.
The organisation allegedly used the international body's name and logo without approval to mislead the public.
Entry passes for Durga Puja preview shows across multiple big-budget events were sold at inflated prices ranging between Rs 1,800 and Rs 5,500.
Public registrations and collections surged over successive years, with thousands registering for the preview passes.
Funds collected were allegedly diverted for personal gain and channelled through complex transactions involving associates and relatives.

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Keep reading

More cases like this one.

1 community-reported scam from West Bengal →MassArt secretary arrested in Durga Puja ticket scam case in KolkataCyber Crime / Digital Arrest · West Bengal Indian Army Officer’s Widow Duped of ₹15 Lakh in ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam in KolkataCyber Crime / Digital Arrest · West Bengal ED arrests Kolkata man in Ludhiana industrialist SP Oswal’s Rs 7-crore digital arrest caseCyber Crime / Digital Arrest · West Bengal Telangana Cyber Security Bureau reaches 15.48 lakh people through cyber awareness drivesCyber Crime / Digital Arrest · Telangana

Sources and further reading

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

newindianexpress.comOriginal report The New Indian Expressnewindianexpress.com

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.