The Kolkata tender probe widened on Wednesday after police arrested Dhrubajyoti Bose, secretary of massArt, a company linked to former minister Indranil Sen, while investigators examined at least 150 state tourism department tenders allegedly awarded to three companies connected with him over the past five years.
Bose, also known as Suvo, was arrested in front of the KIT Building on India Exchange Place, Kolkata Police additional commissioner (crime) Kunal Agarwal said. Police identified him as one of the prime accused in the case and said he would be produced in court on Thursday.
The tenders under examination covered a range of assignments, including installing publicity banners for actor Amitabh Bachchan’s birthday, decorating roads and distributing sweets at the Jagannath temple, according to the report. Investigators are scrutinising the contracts, payments and utilisation of funds to determine whether the work was awarded through prescribed procedures and whether the payments were connected to the alleged irregularities.
Records cited by sources reportedly show that at least ₹28 lakh was spent in the name of the actor’s birthday celebrations. The police inquiry is examining how such public assignments were commissioned, paid for and accounted for, making the case relevant to the functioning of government procurement and oversight in the city.
The investigation also took a parallel step on Wednesday when Abheri Sen, the former minister’s daughter, did not appear before the Special Investigation Team for the second consecutive day. Police sources said another notice asked her to appear at Lalbazar on Thursday. An officer quoted in the report said strong action would follow if she failed to attend again.
Investigators want to question Abheri about financial transactions involving companies linked to her and the alleged movement of funds connected with massArt. Her bank accounts and transactions involving companies associated with her are under scrutiny, according to police sources.
The wider massArt case concerns allegations that the Mahanirban Road Mass Art Society collected money by selling privileged-entry passes for Durga Puja preview shows between 2022 and 2025. Police are examining whether the organisation used Unesco’s name and logo in a way that suggested the preview shows or special-entry passes had the international body’s endorsement.
The organisation was formed after Durga Puja in Kolkata received Unesco intangible cultural heritage recognition in 2021. Investigators are tracing the alleged proceeds through bank accounts belonging to family members and entities associated with them. Sen’s wife, Madhuchhanda, who heads the organisation, has been questioned, while the former minister was arrested and remanded in police custody.
The Special Investigation Team, initially comprising five members, has now been expanded to nine as Lalbazar broadens its inquiry into the alleged financial trail and the roles of different members of the Sen family. Police have also questioned employees and others associated with massArt. The next immediate developments are Bose’s court production and Abheri Sen’s scheduled appearance before the SIT.
