Calcutta HC rejects Indranil Sen's anticipatory bail in ED money laundering case
Synopsis
A Calcutta High Court judge has rejected anticipatory bail for former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen, keeping his arrest in an ED money laundering case a live possibility. The case spans an alleged ₹60 crore Durga Puja fake-pass scheme, ED raids, and a separate agency statement that names former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a ₹30 lakh transaction — making this as much a political flashpoint as a legal one.
Key Takeaways
Calcutta High Court on 15 October 2026 rejected former minister Indranil Sen's anticipatory bail plea before Justice Tirthankar Ghosh .
Sen and wife Madhuchanda Sen are accused in an ED money laundering case involving alleged fake Durga Puja tour passes under the UNESCO tag, with transactions estimated at ₹60 crore .
The ED previously raided Sen's residence, relatives' premises, and an event manager's office; Sen was questioned twice .
The ED named former CM Mamata Banerjee in a statement, alleging nearly ₹30 lakh was transferred from Sen-owned Octave Records to her; Sen claims it was royalty.
A separate West Bengal government judicial commission is also probing alleged irregularities in the state's Information and Cultural Affairs Department tendering process during the previous TMC regime.
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday, 15 October 2026, rejected the anticipatory bail plea of former West Bengal tourism minister and former Minister of State for Information and Cultural Affairs Indranil Sen in a money laundering case under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The ruling by a single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh keeps open the possibility of Sen's arrest as the ED probe intensifies.
What the Case Involves
Sen, a singer-turned-politician, and his wife Madhuchanda Sen are accused of alleged irregularities linked to the sale of fake passes for Durga Puja tours marketed under the UNESCO tag. The amount involved in the alleged transactions was initially estimated at around ₹60 crore. The Kolkata Police first registered a complaint at Bowbazar Police Station, following which the ED launched its own probe by filing an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR).
ED Raids and Questioning
Last month, the central agency conducted searches at multiple locations — including Sen's residence, the premises of some of his relatives, and the office of an event manager connected with the alleged scheme. The ED questioned Sen on two separate occasions as part of the investigation. Anticipating arrest after those summons, Sen moved the Calcutta High Court seeking anticipatory bail, which was rejected on Thursday.
Mamata Banerjee Named in ED Statement
The case carries significant political weight. Earlier this month, the ED issued a statement naming former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in connection with a transaction linked to Sen-owned Octave Records. According to the agency, nearly ₹30 lakh was allegedly transferred from the company's accounts to Banerjee through banking channels. Sen has maintained that the payment was made as royalty for her work — a claim the ED has not yet accepted publicly.
Separate Judicial Inquiry Underway
In a parallel proceeding, a judicial inquiry commission constituted by the West Bengal government to examine alleged institutional corruption during the previous All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime has also initiated an inquiry involving Sen. The commission is probing alleged multi-crore irregularities in the tendering process of the state's Information and Cultural Affairs Department, where Sen served as Minister of State. This inquiry is distinct from, and concurrent to, the ED's money laundering investigation.
What Comes Next
With anticipatory bail now denied, Sen faces a heightened risk of arrest by the ED, which retains the authority to detain individuals under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Legal observers note that the court's refusal signals that prima facie grounds for investigation have been acknowledged. The ED probe — touching on a sitting opposition leader, a former minister, and an alleged link to Banerjee — is likely to deepen political tensions in West Bengal ahead of the next state election cycle.
Point of View
And refusal implies the opposite. What makes this case unusually charged is the ED's decision to name Mamata Banerjee in a transaction statement: that move, whether or not it leads to a formal summons, injects the probe into Bengal's live political contest. The ₹60 crore Durga Puja angle is also symbolically potent — misusing a UNESCO cultural tag for alleged financial fraud strikes at the heart of Bengal's public identity. With anticipatory bail gone and two judicial proceedings now running in parallel, the pressure on Sen — and by extension his political associates — is set to rise sharply.
NationPress
15 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Calcutta High Court reject Indranil Sen's anticipatory bail?
The Calcutta High Court, in a ruling by Justice Tirthankar Ghosh on 15 October 2026, rejected Sen's anticipatory bail application in a money laundering case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate. The court heard the plea and found insufficient grounds to grant pre-arrest protection.
What is the Durga Puja UNESCO fake-pass scam involving Indranil Sen?
Sen and his wife Madhuchanda Sen are accused of alleged irregularities linked to the sale of fake passes for Durga Puja tours marketed using the UNESCO cultural heritage tag. The transactions involved are initially estimated at around ₹60 crore, and the Kolkata Police registered a complaint at Bowbazar Police Station before the ED initiated its own probe.
Why has Mamata Banerjee been named in the ED's statement?
The ED issued a statement this month alleging that nearly ₹30 lakh was transferred from the accounts of Sen-owned Octave Records to former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee through banking channels. Sen has maintained the payment was made as royalty, and no formal case has been filed against Banerjee in this matter so far.
What happens to Indranil Sen now that anticipatory bail has been denied?
With anticipatory bail rejected, Sen faces an elevated risk of arrest by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The agency retains the authority to detain him as its investigation continues.
Is there a separate inquiry into Indranil Sen beyond the ED case?
Yes. A judicial inquiry commission set up by the West Bengal government to probe alleged institutional corruption during the previous TMC regime has initiated a separate inquiry into alleged multi-crore irregularities in the tendering process of the state's Information and Cultural Affairs Department, where Sen served as Minister of State.
