Bengal judicial panel seeks all files cleared by Indranil Sen in cabinet tenure
Synopsis
On the same day the Calcutta High Court denied him anticipatory bail in an ED money laundering case, West Bengal's judicial inquiry commission demanded every file Indranil Sen cleared as a minister between 2016 and 2026 — a sweeping audit move that puts his entire decade in cabinet under the scanner, not just the 'Moder Gorob Bangla' tender controversy.
Key Takeaways
A judicial inquiry commission headed by retired Justice Biswajit Basu on 15 October 2026 sought all files cleared by former minister Indranil Sen during his 2016–2026 cabinet tenure.
The commission has been probing alleged tender irregularities in the 'Moder Gorob Bangla' project, where contracts were reportedly steered to organisations close to Sen in 2022 and 2023 .
The Calcutta High Court on the same day rejected Sen's anticipatory bail plea in an Enforcement Directorate (ED) money laundering investigation.
The ED earlier this month named former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in connection with an alleged ₹30 lakh transfer from Octave Records — owned by Sen — through banking channels.
Sen has maintained the payment to Banerjee was a legitimate royalty, not a suspicious transfer.
A judicial inquiry commission set up by the West Bengal government to probe alleged institutional corruption during the previous Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime on Thursday, 15 October 2026, sought all files and proposals cleared by former minister Indranil Sen during his cabinet tenure from 2016 to 2026. The move marks a significant escalation in the commission's scrutiny of the singer-turned-politician.
What the Commission Has Demanded
The panel, headed by retired Calcutta High Court Justice Biswajit Basu, directed the state secretariat Nabanna to produce all related files. The commission had already been probing multiple allegations against Sen stemming from his roles as West Bengal Minister of State for Information & Cultural Affairs and State Tourism Minister. The demand for the full file record signals the inquiry has moved from targeted examination to a comprehensive audit of his ministerial decisions.
The Moder Gorob Bangla Controversy
The central allegation before the judicial commission concerns alleged irregularities in contracts awarded under the 'Moder Gorob Bangla' (Bengal, Our Pride) project — a state-backed initiative of the Information & Cultural Affairs Department designed to promote Bengal's folk culture, handicrafts, history, and tourism potential while providing livelihood opportunities to local artists across every district.
The commission reportedly received complaints that in 2022 and 2023, tenders for fairs, exhibitions, and handicraft stalls organised under the project were awarded exclusively to a handful of organisations allegedly close to Sen. According to the complaints, Sen purportedly used his ministerial influence to channel crores of rupees worth of contracts to select entities, some of which reportedly belonged to his relatives.
Calcutta High Court Rejects Anticipatory Bail
The commission's file demand came on the same day a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court rejected Sen's anticipatory bail plea in an ongoing money laundering investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The twin developments — a judicial panel widening its scope and a court denying pre-arrest protection — represent a compounding of legal pressure on the former minister on a single day.
ED Probe and the Mamata Banerjee Link
Earlier this month, the ED named former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in connection with a transaction involving 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, however, maintained that the payment was made as royalty. The TMC has not publicly responded to the ED's characterisation of the transaction, and no charges have been filed against Banerjee in the matter.
What Comes Next
The judicial commission is expected to begin examining the Nabanna files once received, potentially widening its probe to other departmental decisions beyond the Moder Gorob Bangla project. With the ED investigation active and anticipatory bail denied, Sen's legal exposure has deepened considerably. How the ruling government responds to the commission's findings — and whether the ED escalates its probe — will define the next chapter of this case.
Point of View
Raising the probability of arrest and making it harder for the TMC to frame this as political harassment. The ED's naming of Mamata Banerjee in the Octave Records transaction, however unproven, is the thread most likely to dominate the political narrative — and the government's handling of that allegation will test the credibility of the entire inquiry's independence.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has the West Bengal judicial commission demanded from Indranil Sen's time as minister?
The judicial inquiry commission, headed by retired Justice Biswajit Basu, has demanded all files and proposals cleared by Indranil Sen during his entire cabinet tenure from 2016 to 2026. The files were sought from the state secretariat, Nabanna, and cover his roles as Minister of State for Information & Cultural Affairs and State Tourism Minister.
What is the 'Moder Gorob Bangla' project and why is it under scrutiny?
'Moder Gorob Bangla' (Bengal, Our Pride) was a West Bengal government initiative to promote the state's folk culture, handicrafts, history, and tourism through fairs and exhibitions across districts. The commission received complaints that in 2022 and 2023, tenders for these events were allegedly awarded only to organisations close to Sen, including some reportedly linked to his relatives.
Why was Indranil Sen's anticipatory bail rejected by the Calcutta High Court?
A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court rejected Sen's anticipatory bail plea on 15 October 2026 in connection with an ongoing Enforcement Directorate investigation into a money laundering case. The court's order leaves him without pre-arrest protection in that probe.
How is Mamata Banerjee connected to the Indranil Sen investigation?
The Enforcement Directorate reportedly named former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in connection with a transaction involving Octave Records, a company owned by Sen. According to the agency, nearly ₹30 lakh was allegedly transferred from the company's accounts to Banerjee via banking channels. Sen has maintained the amount was paid as royalty.
What happens next in the Indranil Sen case?
The judicial commission is expected to examine the Nabanna files once received, potentially expanding its probe beyond the 'Moder Gorob Bangla' contracts to other ministerial decisions. With anticipatory bail denied and the ED investigation active, Sen faces heightened legal exposure in the weeks ahead.
