Now Reading: TMC slams ED over 98% cases targeting opposition leaders
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TMC slams ED over 98% cases targeting opposition leaders
The Trinamool Congress has hit out at the Enforcement Directorate after its claims in a case involving former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen, alleging that nearly 98 per cent of ED cases against politicians were filed against opposition leaders. TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale also questioned the number of cases reaching trial, saying only 47 of 5,297 cases filed in 11 years went to court.
The ED said its probe into alleged financial irregularities in Durga Puja ‘Preview Shows’ by the MassArt society found that a company linked to Sen transferred Rs 30 lakh to accounts of former chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Sen said the payment was royalty. The agency did not attribute criminality to the transaction. The ED has summoned Sen to appear on 7 October.
The money laundering case stems from allegations that MassArt collected money from the public between 2022 and 2025 by falsely claiming to be a UNESCO-sponsored entity. The ED said more than Rs 3.8 crore in cash was deposited into Sen’s accounts. A judicial inquiry commission set up by the Bengal government has also started an investigation against Sen.
Indian Opinion Analysis
ThePrint leads with the TMC’s political attack on the ED, framing the agency as targeting opposition leaders and having a low conviction rate. The Times of India leads with the procedural summons to Sen and the specific financial allegations, including the transfer to Banerjee’s account and the inquiry commission. Both outlets report the same core facts, but ThePrint’s copy is a straight PTI wire carrying the party’s critique, while the Times of India’s version emphasises the investigation’s next step. The TMC’s 98 per cent claim is not countered by either source, and neither outlet reports any official response from the ED or the government to the party’s charge. The concrete next step is Sen’s appearance before the ED on 7 October.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): theprint.in (neutral report), timesofindia.indiatimes.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.
