ED questions ex-Mamata minister Indranil Sen over Murshidabad recruitment scam
Synopsis
The ED's Wednesday grilling of former Mamata minister Indranil Sen is bigger than a routine summons — it threads together civic volunteer recruitment fraud in Murshidabad, alleged UNESCO impersonation through massArt's Durga Puja events, and a parallel judicial commission probing tendering irregularities during his ministerial tenure, making him one of the most legally exposed figures from the previous West Bengal government.
Key Takeaways
Indranil Sen , former West Bengal minister of state for information and cultural affairs, appeared before the ED at Salt Lake, Kolkata on 7 October 2026 .
He is being questioned over alleged irregularities in civic volunteer recruitment in Murshidabad district , where he also served as TMC 's district observer.
The ED has asked Sen to produce financial documents and bank account records for the past 10 years .
A parallel PMLA investigation targets massArt , linked to Sen and his wife Madhuchhanda Sen , over alleged misuse of a UNESCO association during Durga Puja events.
Searches were conducted at 15 premises linked to Sen and associates in September 2026 .
A West Bengal judicial inquiry commission is separately probing tendering irregularities in Sen's department and the 'Moder Gorob Bangla' project.
All allegations remain unproven.
Former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at its Salt Lake office in Kolkata on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, for questioning linked to alleged irregularities in the recruitment of civic volunteers in Murshidabad district. The interrogation, which began at around 11 am, was expected to continue for several hours, according to agency sources.
Who Is Indranil Sen
Indranil Sen served as minister of state for information and cultural affairs and tourism in the previous Mamata Banerjee government, and also functioned as the Trinamool Congress (TMC)'s district observer for Murshidabad. Investigators have reportedly found preliminary information suggesting his links with alleged irregularities in civic volunteer recruitment in the district during that period.
The ED had summoned Sen earlier this week, directing him to appear with documents relating to financial transactions and bank accounts of all his entities for the past 10 years.
The Wider Money-Laundering Probe
Wednesday's questioning is part of a broader Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) investigation involving Sen. Last month, the agency questioned him in connection with Mahanirban Road Mass Art Society (massArt), an organisation reportedly associated with Sen and his wife, Madhuchhanda Sen.
The ED is examining allegations that massArt organised Durga Puja 'preview shows' and sold passes while allegedly projecting itself as a UNESCO-linked or sponsored entity. Investigators are also tracing the flow and utilisation of funds collected through these events. Sen has denied the allegations.
In September, the agency conducted searches at 15 premises linked to Sen, his wife, and associates as part of the PMLA investigation, examining financial transactions and documents to trace fund movement.
Judicial Inquiry Running in Parallel
A judicial inquiry commission constituted by the West Bengal government to examine alleged institutional corruption during the previous TMC regime has also initiated a separate probe involving Sen. The panel is scrutinising alleged irregularities in the tendering process of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department during Sen's ministerial tenure, as well as contracts awarded for the 'Moder Gorob Bangla' project launched under his watch.
What Comes Next
All allegations against Indranil Sen remain under investigation and are as yet unproven. The ED's multi-pronged approach — combining the civic volunteer recruitment angle with the massArt money-laundering strand — signals that investigators are building a broader financial picture. Depending on findings, the agency could escalate to an arrest or further summons. The judicial commission's findings, when finalised, are expected to inform further legal proceedings at the state level.
Point of View
And their simultaneous activation signals unusual political and legal pressure on the former minister. Mainstream coverage has focused on the recruitment angle; the alleged UNESCO branding of a cultural society's ticketed events is the detail that could prove harder to defend. The unproven status of all allegations must be kept central — but the breadth of the probe now rivals the scale seen in the West Bengal school recruitment scam, and that precedent ended in arrests.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Indranil Sen being questioned by the ED?
The ED is questioning Indranil Sen over alleged irregularities in the recruitment of civic volunteers in Murshidabad district, where he served both as a minister and as the TMC's district observer. The agency is also probing him under PMLA in connection with massArt, an organisation linked to him and his wife, over alleged financial irregularities tied to Durga Puja events.
What is the massArt money-laundering case?
Mahanirban Road Mass Art Society (massArt) is an organisation reportedly associated with Indranil Sen and his wife Madhuchhanda Sen. The ED alleges that it organised Durga Puja 'preview shows', sold passes, and allegedly presented itself as a UNESCO-linked entity while irregularly collecting funds. The agency is tracing the flow and use of those funds under PMLA.
What documents has the ED sought from Indranil Sen?
The ED summoned Sen with documents relating to financial transactions and bank accounts of all his entities for the past 10 years. The agency conducted searches at 15 premises linked to him, his wife, and associates in September 2026 as part of this exercise.
Is there a separate inquiry beyond the ED probe?
Yes. A judicial inquiry commission set up by the West Bengal government is separately examining alleged irregularities in the tendering process of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department during Sen's tenure, as well as contracts awarded for the 'Moder Gorob Bangla' project launched under his watch.
Has Indranil Sen been arrested, and are the allegations proven?
No, Indranil Sen has not been arrested. He appeared voluntarily in response to an ED summons. All allegations against him remain under investigation and are as yet unproven. Sen has denied the charges relating to massArt.
