Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Oct 28: Former West Bengal Tourism Minister and former Minister of State for Information and Cultural Affairs Indranil Sen was arrested by Kolkata Police on Wednesday evening in connection with an alleged fake Durga Puja pass scam linked to tours associated with the UNESCO-tagged festival.
According to investigators, Sen and his wife, Madhuchanda Sen, are accused of irregularities in the sale of fake passes for Durga Puja tours. The transactions under scrutiny were initially estimated to involve around Rs 60 crore.
Earlier on Wednesday, the singer-turned-politician appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is conducting a parallel investigation into the case.
During his questioning at the agency's Salt Lake office, personnel from Kolkata Police and officers from Bidhannagar City Police remained stationed outside the premises.
After the ED interrogation concluded, Kolkata Police took Sen into custody and transported him to the police headquarters at Lalbazar. A police source said the former minister had allegedly not been cooperating with the investigation, prompting his arrest.
Earlier this month, Sen approached the Supreme Court seeking anticipatory bail after a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court rejected his plea. However, the apex court remained closed for a week, preventing the matter from being heard. Sen was arrested before his petition could come up for hearing.
Kolkata Police initiated the investigation following a complaint registered at Bowbazar Police Station. The ED subsequently launched its own probe by registering an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR).
Last month, the central agency conducted raids and searches at multiple locations, including Sen's residence, the premises of some of his relatives and the office or premises of an event manager connected with the case. The agency also questioned Sen twice as part of its investigation.
Anticipating his arrest, Sen had initially approached the Calcutta High Court through his counsel for anticipatory bail. His plea was heard by a single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh on October 15. After hearing the matter, the court rejected his application.
Earlier this month, the ED issued a statement naming former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in connection with a transaction involving Octave Records, a company owned by Sen.
According to the agency, nearly Rs 30 lakh was allegedly transferred from the company's accounts to Banerjee through banking channels. Sen, however, maintained that the payment was made as royalty.
Separately, a judicial inquiry commission constituted by the West Bengal government to investigate alleged institutional corruption during the previous Trinamool Congress regime has initiated an inquiry involving Sen.
The commission is examining alleged multi-crore irregularities in the tendering process of the state's Information and Cultural Affairs Department, where Sen had served as Minister of State. The inquiry is separate from the money laundering investigation being conducted by the ED.