Complainant Jaydeep Mukhopadhyay on Tuesday described the alleged misuse of UNESCO's name and logo in connection with Kolkata's Durga Puja as the “biggest art scam,” demanding a thorough and impartial investigation into the matter. The allegations centre on an organisation called MassArt, which is accused of commercially exploiting UNESCO's identity across 2022, 2023, and 2024 without authorisation.

What the Allegations Allege

According to Mukhopadhyay, MassArt falsely claimed a joint venture with UNESCO to select 24 Durga Puja pandals from among nearly 1,000 in Kolkata. The organisation allegedly used this claim to collect money from branding companies, ministries, tourism bodies, and cultural organisations. Tickets priced between ₹3,000 and ₹4,000 were reportedly made mandatory for pre-Puja access.

“This is the biggest scam. Just think about it — an organisation like UNESCO, and its name and logo were allegedly used by this organisation called Mass Art in 2022, 2023 and 2024. They divided Durga Puja and collected money from branding companies, ministries, tourism and cultural organisations. One can only imagine the scale of this alleged scam. It is not merely a scam; it is a matter of the country’s honour,” Mukhopadhyay said.

The Police Complaints Filed

A formal complaint has been lodged at Bowbazar Police Station in central Kolkata by Joydeep Mukherjee on behalf of an international tourism company, naming former state minister Indranil Sen and his wife Madhuchanda Sen — who heads MassArt — as accused. A separate complaint has also been submitted to the Director General of Police. Transactions allegedly worth crores of rupees are said to be involved. Indranil Sen has not made any official comment following the allegations.

Background: UNESCO Recognition and Cultural Stakes

Kolkata's Durga Puja was inscribed in 2021 on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a milestone that significantly raised the festival's global profile. Mukhopadhyay, who describes himself as an international travel consultant, says he has been actively promoting Durga Puja on the world stage since 2010, well before the UNESCO recognition.

“At a time when Durga Puja was not among the world’s most recognised festivals, I worked to promote it internationally. I gave interviews to several media organisations and encouraged vloggers and content creators to visit Kolkata and showcase the festival globally. It was a passion-driven effort,” he said.

Political Dimension and Demand for Probe

Mukhopadhyay claimed to have shared relevant documents with the Chief Minister and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s West Bengal leadership. He alleged that he had been aware of certain aspects of the issue earlier but held back due to what he described as a “culture of fear and intimidation” under the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC).

“I want the truth to come out and for the glory and dignity of Durga Puja to be restored,” he said. The allegations, if substantiated, could raise serious questions about the commercial exploitation of a globally recognised cultural heritage designation.