2 hrs ago
TMC Questions ED Cases Filed Against Opposition Leaders
The Trinamool Congress criticized the Enforcement Directorate, or ED, over its cases involving political leaders.
Saket Gokhale said most of these cases were filed against opposition politicians.
He also questioned how many cases actually reached court and led to convictions.
The ED was investigating former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen and others.
The agency said money was collected through paid Durga Puja preview shows.
It alleged that the organizers improperly used UNESCO’s name and handled the money for personal benefit.
The ED also mentioned a payment of nearly Rs 30 lakh to Mamata Banerjee’s bank accounts.
The agency did not say that this payment itself was criminal.
Trinamool Congress spokesperson Saket Gokhale alleged that 98% of Enforcement Directorate cases against politicians targeted opposition leaders.
Gokhale claimed that 5,297 cases were filed by the Enforcement Directorate in 11 years, but only 47 reached trial.
The Enforcement Directorate said a company linked to former minister Indranil Sen transferred nearly Rs 30 lakh to Mamata Banerjee’s bank accounts.
The agency alleged that more than Rs 3.8 crore was deposited into accounts linked to Indranil Sen and Octave Records.
The probe concerns paid Durga Puja preview shows, alleged misuse of UNESCO’s name, and the handling of ticket proceeds.
- Who
- The Trinamool Congress, spokesperson Saket Gokhale, the Enforcement Directorate, former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen, and others named in the probe.
- What
- The Trinamool Congress criticized the Enforcement Directorate’s record and political focus while the agency described alleged financial irregularities connected to Durga Puja preview shows.
- Where
- The case concerns Durga Puja preview shows at 24 pandals in Kolkata, West Bengal.
- When
- The report was dated October 1; the alleged ticket sales occurred in 2023 and 2024, while the FIR allegations cover 2022 to 2025.
- Why
- The Enforcement Directorate said it was investigating alleged public fundraising through misleading UNESCO-related claims, ticket sales, cash deposits, and the alleged diversion of proceeds.
Trinamool Congress’s criticism
Enforcement Directorate’s allegations
Political selectivity
Trinamool Congress’s criticism
The Trinamool Congress alleged that the overwhelming majority of ED cases against politicians were directed at opposition leaders and questioned the agency’s effectiveness.
Enforcement Directorate’s allegations
The ED’s statement in this report focused on its investigation into alleged financial irregularities and did not address the broader political-targeting allegation.
Status of ED cases
Trinamool Congress’s criticism
Saket Gokhale claimed that only 47 of 5,297 cases filed over 11 years reached trial and cited a 0.7% conviction rate.
Enforcement Directorate’s allegations
The ED did not respond in the report to Gokhale’s figures about trials or convictions.
Durga Puja preview-show case
Trinamool Congress’s criticism
The Trinamool Congress’s criticism followed the ED’s claims involving Indranil Sen and a payment to Mamata Banerjee, while the report notes that the ED did not attribute criminality to that transaction.
Enforcement Directorate’s allegations
The ED alleged that MassArt used UNESCO’s name without authorization, sold preview-show tickets, and diverted or withdrew proceeds for personal gain.
Key facts
- Political criticism
- Saket Gokhale alleged that about 98% of ED cases against politicians targeted opposition leaders.
- Cases and trials
- Gokhale said 5,297 ED cases were filed over 11 years and only 47 reached trial.
- Claimed conviction rate
- Gokhale claimed the ED’s conviction rate was 0.7%.
- Payment cited by ED
- The ED said a company linked to Indranil Sen transferred nearly Rs 30 lakh to Mamata Banerjee’s bank accounts.
- Cash deposits cited by ED
- More than Rs 3.8 crore was allegedly deposited into accounts linked to Indranil Sen and Octave Records.
- Preview shows
- MassArt allegedly sold tickets priced from Rs 1,749 to Rs 5,499 for shows at 24 Kolkata Durga Puja pandals.
- Ticket volume
- The ED said more than one lakh tickets were issued during 2023 and 2024.
Quotes
Saket Gokhale
Trinamool Congress spokesperson
“About 98 per cent of ED cases against politicians were filed against opposition leaders. The remaining 2 per cent are those who went and joined the BJP’s ‘washing machine’.”
theprint.in
“That means out of every 1000 cases filed, accused were found guilty in only 7 cases. Therefore, out of every 100 cases filed by the ED, only 1 actually makes it to court”
theprint.in
Sources
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