A major political development unfolded in West Bengal as former Trinamool Congress minister and well-known singer Indranil Sen was taken into custody by the Kolkata Police. The arrest was executed on October 28 at exactly 5:10 PM by the detective branch of the Kolkata Police. Indranil Sen had been summoned to the Enforcement Directorate office located in Kolkata for questioning regarding an ongoing investigation. As soon as he walked out of the ED office after finishing the interrogation session, waiting police personnel placed him under arrest.
According to police sources, this high-profile arrest is tied to a case involving financial discrepancies, entry passes, and preview shows relating to Durga Puja celebrations. The ongoing probe encompasses charges of money laundering, alongside allegations of illegally using UNESCO's name and official logo to rake in crores of rupees. The investigation directly implicates not just Indranil Sen, but also his wife Madhuchhanda Sen and their organization named ‘MassArt’. Investigators claim that the outfit collected funds from the public by organizing special Durga Puja preview shows and exclusive entry passes.
Authorities revealed that the organization allegedly misled people by falsely projecting itself as an entity affiliated with UNESCO, thereby selling passes under a fraudulent pretext. It has been alleged that UNESCO's name and logo were exploited without any formal authorization or permission. Through this mechanism, an estimated amount ranging between Rs 50 crore and Rs 60 crore was amassed between the years 2022 and 2025. Investigating agencies strongly suspect that a portion of these funds was siphoned off for personal financial gains.
The legal action stems from an initial complaint registered at the Bowbazar police station in Kolkata. Based on that complaint, an FIR was formally lodged, prompting the Enforcement Directorate to subsequently launch a parallel investigation from a money laundering perspective. The current police actions are a continuation of the proceedings tied to that exact FIR. Earlier on September 29, the Enforcement Directorate had conducted expansive search operations across multiple premises linked to Indranil Sen and his associates.
During those raids, searches were carried out at various locations across Kolkata as well as at his garden house and bungalow situated in Singur, located in the Hooghly district. According to reports, investigators secured crucial documents and substantive evidence during these searches. In an attempt to evade coercive action, Indranil Sen had approached the Calcutta High Court seeking anticipatory bail, but his petition was turned down. Following that setback, he also moved the Supreme Court for relief.
On Wednesday, the ED summoned him once again for questioning, marking the third time he appeared for interrogation. The arrest was officially carried out at 5:10 PM once the questioning concluded. The Kolkata Police will now delve deeper into the matter, seeking answers to several critical questions during the ongoing custody and interrogation process.
