Former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen was arrested by Kolkata Police detectives on Wednesday evening in connection with alleged financial irregularities involving the sale of Durga Puja passes and the purported use of UNESCO’s name, according to a report by Sangbad Pratidin – Kolkata. Police are seeking his custody from the Bankshall court on Thursday.
Sen was arrested in Salt Lake after leaving questioning by the Enforcement Directorate, the report said. The case was registered at Bowbazar police station and also names his wife Madhuchhanda Sen, several other individuals and the organisation Mass-Art, which was allegedly used as the front for the activities under investigation.
According to information attributed to Lalbazar, police have invoked several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. These include Section 316, relating to breach of trust; Sections 336(2) and 336(3), concerning forgery and forgery intended for cheating; Section 338, relating to forgery of valuable documents; Section 318, concerning cheating; Section 61(2), relating to criminal conspiracy; and Section 340(2), concerning forged documents.
Investigators allege that at least Rs 30 crore was diverted between 2022 and 2025 through activities conducted under the banner of Mass-Art while invoking UNESCO’s name. The report said police suspect that money was deposited into several bank accounts held in the names of Sen’s wife, daughter and relatives. Investigators are also examining the allegation that shell companies were created to transfer substantial sums.
The police are further investigating whether Sen used his influence to collect money from different organisations by referring to UNESCO and whether he used his position as a minister to facilitate the sale of Durga Puja passes. These claims remain allegations under investigation and have not been established by a court.
Detectives questioned Sen until late Wednesday night, placing before him documents and accounts collected during the inquiry, according to the report. Police sources claimed that he avoided answering several questions during the questioning, although the supplied report does not provide details of his response or a statement from his legal representatives.
The case places the financial administration of large public-facing cultural events under scrutiny. Durga Puja involves organisers, sponsors, civic agencies, police authorities and visitors, making the handling of passes, sponsorship-related collections and institutional affiliations an important part of event governance. The allegations also concern the use of UNESCO’s name, although the report does not specify the organisation’s response or identify the documents on which the investigators’ claims are based.
Police are expected to present Sen before the Bankshall court on Thursday and seek custody for further investigation. The court’s response and the prosecution’s submissions will determine the next formal step in the case.
