Now Reading: Ex-Bengal minister Indranil Sen arrested in Durga Puja pass case
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Ex-Bengal minister Indranil Sen arrested in Durga Puja pass case
The Story in Brief
Former West Bengal minister and TMC leader Indranil Sen was arrested by Kolkata Police on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, shortly after he emerged from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Salt Lake, where he had appeared for his third round of questioning. The arrest is part of a probe into alleged financial irregularities involving the sale of Durga Puja passes and preview show tickets in the name of UNESCO, with the ED estimating the amounts involved at Rs 50 to 60 crore.
The case originated from a complaint by Jaideep Mukherjee at Bowbazar police station. Indiatvnews reports that the ED had initiated its investigation following that complaint, and both the central agency and Kolkata Police are probing the matter. Hindustan Times adds that Sen's wife Madhuchhanda and his associates are under the agency's scanner for alleged irregularities by MassArt Society, which Sen is accused of using to collect money by falsely claiming a UNESCO affiliation.
Sen had previously been questioned by the ED on 30 September and 7 October. His anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Calcutta High Court, and he subsequently challenged that order in the Supreme Court, according to Hindustan Times.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both indiatvnews.com and hindustantimes.com report the same core facts: Sen's arrest after a third ED appearance, the Rs 50 to 60 crore figure, and the UNESCO name misuse allegation. Indiatvnews adds the detail that Kolkata Police made the arrest, while Hindustan Times includes Sen's failed bail attempts in the High Court and Supreme Court. The coverage is uniform straight reporting with no discernible slant from either outlet. The next concrete step is whether the courts will hear Sen's pending Supreme Court challenge to his bail rejection.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): indiatvnews.com (neutral report), hindustantimes.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
