The Enforcement Directorate searched 10 locations Tuesday morning, including the homes of former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen and others, in connection with alleged financial irregularities involving a company that ran Durga Puja preview shows.
According to ED sources, the raids began at 6.30 am at 10 locations, including Sen’s three houses in Kolkata, his farmhouses in Hooghly and Singur, and an event manager’s house under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
“Yes, we heard that raids are underway. All documents have been submitted to the police,” Sen’s relative told media persons.
Sources said the company, massArt, collected Rs 50-60 crore from people in the name of preview shows, which was distributed among many and also transferred for personal gain.
They said ED is investigating who founded massArt, run by Sen and his wife Madhuchanda Sen, whether any influential person was involved in this company, and which Durga Pujas were listed with it for preview shows.
ED is further investigating the amount charged for the preview shows and how massArt, which has no link with Unesco, used the UN organisation’s logo for tickets.
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Joydeep Mukherjee, who lodged the complaint, told reporters that ED called him on August 17 and questioned him.
“We complained that massArt falsely used Unesco’s name and sold tickets. When I mailed Unesco, it denied any connection with massArt and said it was concerned,” Mukherjee said.
“I have given all documents to ED. Tickets were sold for Rs 12,000. Obviously, influential people are involved. I demand an investigation into this cartel.”
They were booked under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those related to criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, using forged documents, and criminal conspiracy.
The accused allegedly founded massArt in 2022 and falsely claimed an official partnership with Unesco to market high-priced donor passes and pre-Puja entry tickets for personal and financial gain.
Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage.
Experience
Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness.
Geographical Expertise: Provides focused, in-depth coverage of West Bengal, demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the state's news and political nuances.
Core Authority: Her reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial, often sensitive, beats, including:
State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies.
Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues.
Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE).
Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.
Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read More
