3 hrs ago
Puja Body Asks Police to Stop Commercial Sale of VIP Passes
Durga Puja draws large crowds to pandals in Kolkata.
Some places use special passes to help manage who enters.
The Durga Puja Samanwaya Samiti says these passes should not be sold to make money.
Its president alleged that some organisations had earned crores of rupees from selling them.
The group says passes can still help manage crowds and assist people who find long queues difficult.
It also wants more transparency about how passes are issued and shared.
The Samiti raised its concerns at a meeting with Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand.
Nand said police would look into allegations of wrongdoing, but would not give general instructions about passes.
The Durga Puja Samanwaya Samiti asked Kolkata Police to stop VIP passes from being sold commercially.
The request was made at a meeting with Police Commissioner Ajay Nand at Lalbazar on Wednesday.
Samiti president Rudranil Ghosh alleged that some organisations had earned crores of rupees from pass sales.
The Samiti said passes could still be used for crowd management and to assist elderly visitors and others who struggle with queues.
Nand said police would examine allegations of misappropriation or cheating, but would not issue general instructions on VIP passes.
- Who
- The Durga Puja Samanwaya Samiti, including its president Rudranil Ghosh, raised the issue with Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand.
- What
- The Samiti asked police to prevent commercial sales of Durga Puja VIP passes and examine how they are issued and distributed.
- Where
- At Lalbazar, Kolkata.
- When
- Wednesday, ahead of the Durga Puja festival; no date is specified.
- Why
- The Samiti says passes intended for crowd management should not become a source of commercial revenue, and it raised concerns about alleged sales and indirect flows of money to some Puja committees.
Samiti
Police commissioner
Commercial sale of passes
Samiti
The Samiti wants commercial sales stopped, while allowing passes for crowd management and people who struggle with queues.
Police commissioner
Nand said police would not issue general instructions about VIP passes; the police role begins when allegations of misappropriation, cheating, or another offence arise.
Oversight of pass distribution
Samiti
The Samiti called for greater transparency and urged police to examine how passes are issued, distributed, and allegedly sold.
Police commissioner
Nand said the allegations and the system would be examined, while describing police involvement as tied to possible offences.
Key facts
- Meeting location
- Lalbazar
- Police commissioner
- Ajay Nand
- Samiti president
- Rudranil Ghosh, a BJP MLA
- Committees under Kolkata Police
- More than 3,000 registered Puja committees
- Samiti's position
- VIP passes may be used for crowd management and to assist people who have difficulty standing in queues, but should not be sold commercially.
- Police response
- Nand said police would act when allegations of misappropriation, cheating, or another offence arise, and would examine the allegations and system.
Quotes
Rudranil Ghosh
BJP MLA and president of the Durga Puja Samanwaya Samiti.
“Monetising Puja passes is absolutely uncalled for. It had become a culture in the last regime. We have requested the police to ensure that nothing like this happens this time.”
telegraphindia.com
“VIP passes can certainly be issued for crowd management and other requirements. But selling these passes for money should be stopped.”
telegraphindia.com
Ajay Nand
Kolkata Police Commissioner.
“We are not issuing any instructions to anyone regarding VIP passes. Our role comes in when there are allegations of misappropriation or cheating, or when any offence takes place.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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