The Kolkata puja controversy has widened after police arrested Dhrubajyoti Basu, also known as Shubho, in connection with alleged irregularities in the sale of Durga Puja passes through an organisation called Mass Art, according to a report by Anandabazar. The arrest has prompted several puja committee officials to raise fresh allegations about political influence, control over prominent pujas and the commercial distribution of access to festival previews.
The report said Basu was arrested on Wednesday evening from the Teriti Bazar area. It did not include a police statement detailing the specific charges or the sections of law invoked in the arrest. The allegations described in the report have been made by puja organisers and a lawyer involved in legal proceedings concerning Mass Art; they have not been independently established in the material available for this report.
According to the account, Basu became associated with the Belgachia Sarbojanin Durga Puja in 2016. The puja was renamed Tala Pratyay the following year on his advice, after which its budget reportedly increased each year. Former committee members were allegedly removed over time, and the puja came to be identified closely with Basu’s leadership.
The report further stated that Basu developed a close association with then minister and ruling party leader Indranil Sen. In 2022, Mass Art was allegedly launched with the minister’s assistance. Puja officials accused the organisation of using UNESCO’s name without authorisation while selling advance-entry passes for preview shows involving around 20 to 25 selected pujas in Kolkata. The report did not provide a copy of any UNESCO complaint, official notice or court finding confirming that allegation.
Nitin Patel, associated with the Bhawanipur Chakraberia Sarbojanin puja, alleged that a former minister was directly connected with the alleged network. He also alleged that advertising was forcibly taken over, preferred individuals were installed in committees and government funds were misused. These claims were presented as his allegations and were not accompanied in the report by documentary evidence or a response from the individuals named.
Other organisers described alleged pressure within puja committees. Abhijit Basak of Lahabagan Sarbojanin said he was removed from his neighbourhood puja committee because of his political identity and Basu’s instructions. He said he returned to the committee this year. Debashis Som of Tala Pratyay alleged that money held in the puja committee’s bank account had not been returned by Basu, while saying the committee continued to organise the festival after his removal.
The report also linked Basu’s alleged influence to several prominent pujas, including Hatibagan Sarbojanin, Behala Nutan Dal, Chetla Agrani, Rajdanga Naboday Sangha, Barisha Club and SB Park. Atanu Ghosh, a lawyer involved in legal action concerning Mass Art and an office-bearer of Behala Debdaru Fatak, said documents in his possession allegedly showed that a recurring group of roughly 24 to 25 pujas had been favoured over the previous four to five years.
Anandabazar reported that after a change in the state government, Basu allegedly attempted to retain influence over Tala Pratyay by contacting a local legislator. It also reported that the administration moved to recover a portion of Tala Park allegedly occupied illegally, while older committee members began the process of removing Basu. The report did not specify the administrative order or the current status of that land action. No response from Basu, Indranil Sen, Mass Art or the police was included in the supplied report. The arrest and the allegations may now be examined through the police investigation and any related legal proceedings.
