States » EastPosted at: Oct 29 2026 9:46PM


UNESCO confirms communication with Bengal govt on Durga Puja but denied having any contract contract: Kolkata Police

Kolkata, Oct 29 (UNI) In a significant development, UNESCO has denied entering into any contract with 'Mass Art' — a cultural organisation owned by Trinamool Congress leader Indranil Sen — or any other organisation or government department to use its name to secure access to 24 Durga Puja pandals for commercial purposes.
The development comes after the Detective Department of Kolkata Police wrote to UNESCO seeking clarification on allegations against Sen. The police sought to know whether there had been any official communication between the international organisation and the West Bengal government regarding Durga Puja.
"Though UNESCO confirmed that there had been official communication with the Information and Cultural Affairs Department of West Bengal the international organisation had not entered into any contract with anyone to use its name and logo" a senior Kolkata Police officer said.
The allegations and the subsequent arrest stem from a complaint lodged by Joydeep Mukhopadhyay, head of a travel agency, at Bowbazar police station. The complaint alleged that UNESCO's name was used to secure access to 24 Durga Puja pandals for commercial purposes.
"Tickets were reportedly sold for entry to these pandals at prices ranging from Rs 1,800 to Rs 12,000," a senior officer said.
The case was later handed over to the Detective Department of Kolkata Police.
Sen, who was then the Minister of State for Information and Culture (Independent Charge), allegedly used his political clout to obtain financial benefits from the arrangement.
Apart from this, Sen is also facing allegations of financial irregularities in the tendering process for several events, including the Red Road Carnival, Kolkata Book Fair, 'Bangla Moder Garbo' initiative and Kolkata International Film Festival.
He is accused of favouring three agencies — Third Line Creations, GD Creations and Rupakar — while awarding contracts for these events.
According to reports, Third Line Creations received contracts worth Rs 36.09 crore, GD Creations Rs 24.51 crore and Rupakar Rs 8.23 crore.
Investigators are examining allegations that Sen had close associations with these agencies and that they were repeatedly favoured for projects across different districts.
There are also allegations that payments were routed through third parties into the bank accounts of the agencies.
Sen had appeared at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office at the CGO Complex to respond to investigators' queries.
He was reportedly taken into custody by the Special Cell of the Kolkata Police Detective Department at around 5 pm while leaving the premises.
Produced before the Bankshall Court on Thursday, Sen was remanded to police custody until November 10.
According to sources at Lalbazar, he has been booked under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 316, 336(2), 336(3), 338, 318, 61(2) and 340(2), relating to allegations of criminal breach of trust, forgery, cheating, criminal conspiracy and the use of forged documents.
Intelligence sources said Sen was interrogated until late at night, with the questioning reportedly becoming intense.
He allegedly dismissed several questions put to him during the interrogation.
Meanwhile, state and central investigating agencies have alleged that Rs 3.8 crore in cash was deposited into the bank account of Sen's publishing firm, 'October Record'.
They have also alleged that Rs 30 lakh was paid to a person identified as Bandyopadhyay.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, at a press conference on Wednesday, directly alleged that former chief minister Mamata Banerjee was one of the beneficiaries.
These claims have been incorporated into the case, and investigators are examining the transactions.
Lawyers representing the complainant have maintained that Sen played a direct role in the tendering process. UNI BG/SAG NST CDS
Tags: #UNESCO confirms communication with Bengal govt on Durga Puja but denied having any contract contract: Kolkata Police
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