Kolkata, October 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A lower court in Kolkata on Thursday remanded former West Bengal Tourism Minister and former Minister of State for Information and Cultural Affairs Indranil Sen to 13 days of police custody in a case registered by Kolkata Police over an alleged fake Durga Puja pass scam linked to UNESCO-tagged festival tours.
Sen, a singer-turned-politician, was arrested by Kolkata Police on Wednesday and produced before the court on Thursday. The public prosecutor, Abhijit Chattopadhyay, sought 13 days of police custody, which the court granted after hearing arguments from both sides.
During the hearing, Chattopadhyay told the court that an organisation named Mass Art Society, owned by Sen’s wife, Madhuchhanda Sen, had signed an agreement with UNESCO in 2025. He alleged that despite restrictions on using the UNESCO logo for commercial purposes, the organisation marketed and sold Durga Puja tour packages using the UNESCO tag between 2022 and 2025.
The public prosecutor further alleged that money was transferred to the former minister’s bank account on the same day that funds were collected and deposited into the account of Mass Art Society.
Chattopadhyay also told the court that statements recorded from three witnesses indicated the former minister’s direct involvement in the alleged irregularities.
Seeking bail for Sen, his counsel argued that the former minister had no role in the sale of passes and was not associated with Mass Art Society or any other entity that had emerged during the investigation. His lawyer denied all the allegations against him.
After hearing the submissions from both sides, the judge ordered Sen’s remand to 13 days of police custody.
A Kolkata Police official said the investigation was primarily focused on identifying other alleged beneficiaries of the scam, making further interrogation of Sen necessary.
According to police sources, Sen was questioned for several hours at Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar after his arrest. Kolkata Police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are conducting parallel investigations into the alleged UNESCO-tagged Durga Puja pass scam.
Sen was arrested shortly after leaving the ED office in Salt Lake on Wednesday, following an extensive round of questioning.
FOLLOW NOW
