2 hrs ago
ED says ex-minister’s firm transferred Rs 30 lakh to Banerjee
The Enforcement Directorate is investigating how money was collected through Durga Puja preview events.
It said a company connected to former minister Indranil Sen sent nearly Rs 30 lakh to Mamata Banerjee.
Sen said the payment was for royalty.
The agency did not say that this particular payment was illegal.
Investigators also said more than Rs 3.8 crore was deposited into accounts linked to Sen and his company.
The case involves MassArt Society, which organised ticketed preview visits to Durga Puja pandals.
The agency alleges that MassArt used UNESCO’s name without permission and misused money.
A Trinamool Congress spokesperson accused the ED of targeting opposition leaders.
The Enforcement Directorate said Octave Records transferred nearly Rs 30 lakh through banking channels to Mamata Banerjee.
The agency said Indranil Sen claimed the payment was royalty and did not attribute criminality to the transaction.
The ED found more than Rs 3.8 crore deposited into accounts linked to Sen and Octave Records during his tenure.
The probe concerns alleged financial irregularities in MassArt Society’s Durga Puja Preview Shows in Kolkata.
MassArt allegedly sold over one lakh tickets in 2023 and 2024, with ticket prices ranging from Rs 1,749 to Rs 5,499.
- Who
- The Enforcement Directorate, former minister Indranil Sen, his company Octave Records, Mamata Banerjee, and MassArt Society are central to the report; TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale criticized the probe.
- What
- The ED reported that Octave Records transferred nearly Rs 30 lakh to Mamata Banerjee and alleged wider financial irregularities linked to Durga Puja Preview Shows.
- Where
- The investigation concerns Kolkata, West Bengal, and searches were conducted at premises linked to Sen and at the ED’s Kolkata office.
- When
- The report was published on Thursday, Oct 1; the ticketing activity cited by the ED occurred in 2023 and 2024, while the related FIR concerns alleged activity from 2022 to 2025.
- Why
- The ED is investigating allegations that MassArt collected money by falsely claiming UNESCO sponsorship and used proceeds from ticket sales for personal gain.
Enforcement Directorate’s allegations
TMC’s criticism
Nature of the investigation
Enforcement Directorate’s allegations
The ED said MassArt Society allegedly collected public money by falsely presenting itself as UNESCO-sponsored, commercialised Durga Puja viewing, and diverted proceeds for personal gain.
TMC’s criticism
TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale accused the ED of partisan action against opposition leaders.
The payment to Banerjee
Enforcement Directorate’s allegations
The ED identified a nearly Rs 30 lakh transfer from Octave Records to Mamata Banerjee and reported Sen’s claim that it was a royalty payment, without attributing criminality to that transaction.
TMC’s criticism
The TMC response focused on alleged political selectivity in ED cases and did not provide a separate account of the transfer in the report.
Key facts
- Payment cited by ED
- Nearly Rs 30 lakh transferred from Octave Records to Mamata Banerjee through banking channels
- Stated purpose
- Indranil Sen claimed the payment was royalty
- Other deposits
- More than Rs 3.8 crore was deposited into accounts linked to Indranil Sen and Octave Records
- Ticket sales
- More than one lakh tickets were issued in 2023 and 2024
- Ticket prices
- Rs 1,749 to Rs 5,499
- Locations covered
- Preview Shows at 24 Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata
- ED qualification
- The ED did not attribute criminality to the Rs 30 lakh transaction
Quotes
Enforcement Directorate
India’s financial-crime investigation agency
“Also, from the bank account of Octave Records, a sum of nearly Rs 30 lakh was transferred via banking channels to Mamata Banerjee, the then Chief Minister of West Bengal, which Indranil Sen has claimed was paid in the form of royalty.”
theprint.in
“About 98% cent of ED cases against politicians were filed on Opposition leaders. The remaining 2% are those who went & joined the BJP’s washing machine”
theprint.in
Sources
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