Kolkata, October 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former West Bengal Minister Indranil Sen on Saturday approached the Supreme Court seeking anticipatory bail in a money laundering case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), apprehending arrest following the rejection of his plea by the Calcutta High Court.
The move by Sen, a singer-turned-politician, came after a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail application earlier this week.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to remain closed next week, and the matter may be taken up after the court reopens.
Sen and his wife, Madhuchanda Sen, are accused of alleged irregularities involving the sale of fake passes for Durga Puja tours using the UNESCO tag. The amount involved in the alleged transactions was initially estimated at around Rs 60 crore.
The Kolkata Police began investigating the matter following a complaint lodged 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 linked to the case. The agency also questioned Sen twice as part of its investigation.
Anticipating arrest, Sen approached the Calcutta High Court through his counsel, seeking anticipatory bail. The application came up for hearing before a single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh on October 15. After hearing the matter, the court rejected his plea.
Following the High Court’s decision, Sen moved the Supreme Court with a similar application, seeking protection from arrest in the case.
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. This inquiry is separate from the money laundering investigation being conducted by the ED.
FOLLOW NOW
