Indranil Sen booked under WBMPO Act, faces 7 BNS sections in Durga Puja pass scam
Synopsis
A former West Bengal minister and celebrated singer now faces a WBMPO 'subversive acts' charge on top of seven BNS sections — including forgery and criminal conspiracy — in a multi-crore fake Durga Puja pass scam allegedly run through his wife's organisation over three years. The shell company angle now being probed suggests the financial web could be far larger than first reported.
Key Takeaways
Indranil Sen , former West Bengal Tourism Minister, was booked on 3 November 2026 under Section 9 of the WBMPO Act, 1972 — which carries up to 10 years imprisonment.
He also faces seven sections of the BNS, 2023 , including criminal breach of trust, forgery, cheating, criminal conspiracy, and using forged documents.
Financial irregularities of several crores of rupees are alleged to have taken place between 2022 and 2025 via Mass Art Society , reportedly owned by his wife Madhuchhanda Sen .
Investigators are probing the use of shell companies to divert funds, suggesting the scam's scale may be larger than initially charged.
Both the Kolkata Police and the Enforcement Directorate are running parallel investigations.
Sen is in police custody and will next appear before a lower court in Kolkata on 10 November .
Former West Bengal Tourism Minister Indranil Sen was on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, booked under Section 9 of the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (WBMPO) Act, 1972 — in addition to seven sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 — in connection with an alleged fake pass scam tied to UNESCO-tagged Durga Puja festival tours in Kolkata. The singer-turned-politician, who also served as former Minister of State for Information and Cultural Affairs, is currently in police custody and is next due before a lower court on 10 November.
What the WBMPO Charge Means
According to sources familiar with the investigation, Sen has been booked under Section 9 of the WBMPO Act, which deals with the penalty for subversive acts. A conviction under this provision can carry imprisonment of up to ten years, a fine, or both. Legal analysts quoted in reports say this addition substantially compounds Sen's legal exposure, given that he was already facing a battery of charges under the BNS.
The Seven BNS Sections He Faces
The BNS sections under which Sen has been booked cover a wide range of alleged offences: Section 316 (criminal breach of trust), Sections 336(2) and 336(3) (forgery and forgery for the purpose of cheating), Section 338 (forgery of valuable security and other specified documents), Section 318 (cheating), Section 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), and Section 340(2) (using a forged document or electronic record as genuine). Together, the charges paint a picture of an alleged, systematic effort to fabricate credentials and divert funds.
The Alleged Scam: What Investigators Have Found
According to preliminary findings cited by sources, financial irregularities reportedly involving several crores of rupees allegedly took place between 2022 and 2025, carried out in the name of UNESCO and Durga Puja celebrations through Mass Art Society — a corporate entity allegedly owned by Sen's wife, Madhuchhanda Sen. Investigators have found indications, the sources added, that Sen allegedly withdrew substantial sums from various organisations by leveraging his ministerial influence and invoking UNESCO's name.
The investigating officers are currently examining additional angles, including the alleged floating and use of shell companies to divert funds — a development that suggests the financial trail may extend well beyond the initial charges.
Parallel Investigations and Arrest Timeline
Both the Kolkata Police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are conducting parallel investigations into the alleged scam. Sen was arrested by the Kolkata Police last week after he emerged from the ED's office in Salt Lake, on the northern outskirts of Kolkata. He remains in police custody as of Tuesday.
What Happens Next
Sen is scheduled to be produced before a lower court in Kolkata on 10 November. With investigators still probing the shell company angle and parallel ED proceedings under way, the legal proceedings are likely to widen before they narrow.
Point of View
If substantiated, would also bring this case squarely into ED territory under PMLA, potentially freezing assets far beyond what the BNS charges alone would permit. The use of a UNESCO imprimatur to allegedly siphon public and cultural funds is particularly damaging for West Bengal's ruling establishment, which has long positioned the Durga Puja UNESCO listing as a prestige achievement. Mainstream coverage has focused on the arrest; the more consequential story is where the money trail leads.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Indranil Sen and why has he been arrested?
Indranil Sen is a former West Bengal Tourism Minister and former Minister of State for Information and Cultural Affairs, also known as a singer-turned-politician. He was arrested by the Kolkata Police in connection with an alleged fake pass scam linked to UNESCO-tagged Durga Puja festival tours, involving alleged financial irregularities of several crores of rupees between 2022 and 2025.
What is Section 9 of the WBMPO Act and why does it matter?
Section 9 of the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (WBMPO) Act, 1972 deals with the penalty for subversive acts, and a conviction can carry imprisonment of up to ten years, a fine, or both. Its invocation against Sen is a significant escalation, as it goes beyond standard fraud charges and signals investigators view his alleged conduct as a broader threat to public order.
What are the BNS sections Indranil Sen has been charged under?
Sen faces seven sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023: Section 316 (criminal breach of trust), Sections 336(2) and 336(3) (forgery and forgery for cheating), Section 338 (forgery of valuable security), Section 318 (cheating), Section 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), and Section 340(2) (using a forged document or electronic record as genuine).
What is Mass Art Society and what role does it allegedly play?
Mass Art Society is a corporate entity allegedly owned by Sen's wife, Madhuchhanda Sen. According to preliminary findings cited by investigators, it was allegedly used to channel financial irregularities of several crores of rupees in the name of UNESCO and Durga Puja celebrations between 2022 and 2025.
What happens next in the Indranil Sen case?
Sen remains in police custody and is scheduled to be produced before a lower court in Kolkata on 10 November. Investigators are still probing the use of shell companies to divert funds, and both the Kolkata Police and the Enforcement Directorate are running parallel investigations, suggesting proceedings could widen significantly.
