A sharp political controversy broke out in West Bengal on Friday, 2 October 2026, after Labour Minister Arjun Singh called for the arrest of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, citing an Enforcement Directorate (ED) statement that claimed nearly ₹30 lakh was transferred to her through banking channels from the account of Octave Records — a proprietorship concern of former state minister Indranil Sen, who is under investigation in an alleged money laundering case.

What the ED Statement Alleges

According to the ED's statement, issued on Thursday, the agency's probe into Indranil Sen's proprietorship firm Octave Records revealed that more than ₹3.3 crore in cash was deposited into the bank accounts of Sen and Octave Records. The agency further alleged that nearly ₹30 lakh from that account was transferred to Mamata Banerjee via banking channels.

The ED also alleged that during Sen's tenure as Tourism Minister in a Trinamool Congress (TMC) government led by Mamata Banerjee, state tenders worth more than ₹85 crore from the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Departments were allegedly awarded to entities owned by Dhrubajyoti Bose and Dipesh Roy, described as close associates of Sen. These entities allegedly channelled large sums to businesses controlled by relatives of Sen, and substantial cash withdrawals were reportedly made from their accounts.

Notably, this investigation is separate from the earlier 'Mass Art' case, in which Sen's organisation was accused of selling Durga Puja preview show passes in 2024 and 2025. Sen is already under the ED scanner in that case as well.

Arjun Singh Demands Arrest

Labour Minister Arjun Singh did not hold back in his response to the ED disclosures. 'The people of Bengal know that Mamata Banerjee made her nephew a money-making machine. The former Chief Minister was very much a part of the game. Now everything is coming out in the open,' Singh told reporters.

He alleged that Mamata Banerjee had damaged the state's finances during her tenure and insisted she should be placed under arrest. His demand was framed entirely around the contents of the ED statement and is the latest in a series of political escalations stemming from the agency's investigations into TMC-linked figures.

Trinamool Hits Back: 'It Was Royalty'

The ruling party moved quickly to counter the narrative. Trinamool Congress MLA from the Beliaghata Assembly constituency, Kunal Ghosh, came out in defence of the former Chief Minister, arguing that the payment in question was entirely legitimate.

'The money that went to Mamata Banerjee's account from Sen's organisation was completely legal and is reflected in income tax records,' Ghosh said. He explained that Mamata Banerjee had been writing and composing songs for many years, and that Sen's organisation had commercially marketed those works. The payments, he maintained, were royalties arising from those creative works. Ghosh alleged that the controversy was a deliberate attempt to politically malign the former Chief Minister.

According to the ED's own statement, Indranil Sen had also stated that the ₹30 lakh amount was paid as royalty.

Broader Context and What Comes Next

This development comes amid an escalating pattern of central agency investigations into individuals associated with the TMC government in West Bengal. The ED's simultaneous probes — spanning Mass Art, Octave Records, and tender irregularities — suggest a widening net. Critics argue the timing and framing of agency disclosures carry political overtones, while the ruling party insists the investigations are motivated by partisan interests.

The central question now is whether the ED will formally summon or charge Mamata Banerjee in this matter, or whether the ₹30 lakh transfer will be treated as a closed royalty transaction consistent with Sen's own account. The political pressure on the TMC is likely to intensify as the probe progresses.