The Calcutta High Court has refused anticipatory bail to former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen in a criminal case involving allegations of financial irregularities and cheating through the sale of expensive preview tickets for Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata. The court found that the prosecution had presented material indicating possible misuse of his ministerial position and diversion of government funds.
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, while dismissing Sen’s plea on Thursday, observed that the allegations concerning the diversion of public money through government tenders and the involvement of entities connected to his family required consideration.
The court noted that the state had established a link between Sen and two entities allegedly involved in transferring money to MassArt, an organisation under investigation in connection with the transactions.
Court Flags Alleged Diversion of Government Funds
During the hearing, the state government, represented by Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumdar, alleged that Sen had misused his authority as a minister to channel government money through MassArt, which was allegedly functioning as a shell organisation.
The court examined the composition of the MassArt Society and noted that its office-bearers included Sen’s wife and individuals associated with companies that had secured tenders from the Information and Cultural Affairs Department during his tenure.
These individuals included directors and persons managing the daily operations of the entities awarded government contracts.
Justice Ghosh observed that the possibility of Sen having abused his official position could not be excluded at the present stage.
The court further noted that the alleged diversion of government money through the tender process appeared to have benefited Sen and his family members. It also referred to his position as the minister heading the department concerned while examining his responsibility for the transactions.
Cheating Allegations Linked to Durga Puja Preview Tickets
The criminal proceedings originated from a complaint lodged by Joydip Mukherjee at Bowbazar police station in Kolkata.
According to the complaint, people were allegedly deceived between 2022 and 2024 through the sale of tickets for special preview visits to Durga Puja pandals.
The complainant alleged that the organisation involved in selling the tickets falsely projected an association with UNESCO and used religion to induce people to purchase them.
Sen, a singer who previously handled the cultural affairs and tourism portfolios in the TMC government, was accused of turning the religious festival into a commercial venture through the ticket sales.
Former Minister Denies Specific Involvement
In his anticipatory bail application, Sen disputed the allegations and argued that the complaint failed to identify any specific criminal act committed by him.
His counsel submitted that the accusations were general in nature and lacked sufficient material to establish his involvement in the alleged offences.
The defence further contended that the criminal proceedings against Sen had been initiated following a change of government in West Bengal.
However, after considering the rival submissions and the material presented by the prosecution, the High Court declined to grant him protection from arrest.
ED Also Investigating Financial Transactions
Sen has also faced questioning by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with financial dealings involving MassArt.
On September 30, the central agency searched several premises associated with the former minister as part of its investigation into alleged monetary transactions connected with selling preview tickets for popular Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata.
The High Court’s decision leaves Sen without anticipatory bail in the criminal case registered at Bowbazar police station.
