States » EastPosted at: Oct 2 2026 7:14PM


Bengal: Dilip Ghosh attacks Mamata Banerjee after ED claims Indranil Sen transferred 30 lakhs to her account

Kolkata, Oct 2 (UNI) A day after the Enforcement Directorate claimed that former minister Indranil Sen had admitted to transferring Rs 30 lakh to Mamata Banerjee’s bank account, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh said the allegations had raised questions about the former chief minister’s claim of maintaining a clean image in public life.
“She presented herself as a symbol of honesty while trapping everyone else. This will not continue anymore,” Ghosh said, alleging that Banerjee had kept herself distanced from corruption allegations involving her party leaders and ministers.
He claimed that several Trinamool leaders and ministers had faced legal action and imprisonment while Banerjee remained untouched.
“The real story is now emerging,” he said.
The remarks followed the ED's investigation into alleged financial irregularities surrounding the sale of tickets for Durga Puja preview shows in Kolkata.
The agency has claimed that more than Rs 3.8 crore was deposited into the bank accounts of former minister Indranil Sen and his proprietorship concern, Octave Records, during his tenure as Minister of State for Information and Cultural Affairs.
According to the ED, around Rs 30 lakh was subsequently transferred from the firm's account to Banerjee's bank account.
During questioning, Sen allegedly told the agency that the payment was made as royalty.
The ED has not alleged any criminality against Banerjee in connection with the transaction.
Banerjee was the chief minister as well as the minister-in-charge of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department during the period under investigation.
However, Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh defended Banerjee, saying she writes songs and composes music and that the payment was made under an agreement with Sen's organisation.
The ED's wider investigation stems from a complaint lodged against MassArt Society at the Bowbazar police station.
The agency subsequently registered an ECIR and conducted searches at 15 locations across Kolkata, including Sen's residence, on September 29.
The ED alleges that MassArt collected money between 2022 and 2025 by marketing Durga Puja preview shows using the UNESCO name and logo.
Tickets for shows at 24 selected puja pandals were allegedly sold for between Rs 1,749 and Rs 5,499.
The agency has alleged that more than one lakh counterfeit tickets were sold during 2023 and 2024 and that portions of the proceeds were withdrawn in cash or shown as miscellaneous expenses.
The agency is also probing alleged tender irregularities where the ED is closely examining the role of two businessmen who were close associates of Sen.
According to the ED, these two businessmen secured contracts worth more than Rs 85 crore from the Tourism and Information and Cultural Affairs departments.
The companies allegedly transferred money to entities linked to Sen's relatives, while substantial cash withdrawals are also being examined.
Sen's wife Madhuchhanda Sen, who is the president of MassArt, is also under the ED's scanner.
Sen has been summoned to appear before the ED again on October 7.
UNI BGA/SAG NST RSA
Tags: #Bengal: Dilip Ghosh attacks Mamata Banerjee after ED claims Indranil Sen transferred 30 lakhs to her account
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