Indranil Sen in CGO Complex, Salt Lake
Kolkata: ED on Wednesday interrogated former Bengal tourism minister Indranil Sen for nearly 10 hours in connection with its investigation into alleged Durga Puja preview pass scam.
Investigators have come across a 2022 brochure which used both Unesco and ‘massArt’ logos. On Tuesday, ED officials searched 15 premises linked to Sen. They were charged at Rs 4,000 per card. ‘Platinum Couple’ passes allowed two adults and each pass was allegedly priced at Rs 3,500. ‘Platinum Single’ passes allowed one adult at a price of Rs 2,500. Apart from these, there were ‘Gold Couple’ and ‘Gold Single’ passes priced at Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000 each. Formed in June 2022, massArt showed a tie-up with Unesco and sold preview passes for 24 Puja pandals in Kolkata.
You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kolkata | Silver Rate in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Petrol Price in Kolkata | Diesel Price in Kolkata | CNG Price in Kolkata | LPG Price in Kolkata Stay updated with the latest Kolkata news.
Investigators questioned Sen over the usage of the Unesco logo and the association of ‘massArt’ with the organisation, according to ED sources. ED also questioned him about digital passes issued to visitors. ED suspects massArt, the organisation with which Sen’s wife Madhuchhanda was attached, issued three categories of passes. ‘Platinum Family’ passes allowed two adults, two senior citizens and two kids. It was alleged that buses carrying domestic and foreign visitors under the ‘massArt’ banner would take tourists around selected Durga Puja pandals and to the organisation’s gallery as part of the itinerary. Investigators are trying to find whether visitors purchased handicrafts, sarees, paintings and other artwork under massArt’s initiative. Download the TOI App.