Five Former Ministers Arrested in West Bengal Amid Corruption Allegations
Arrests Following Government Transition
In Kolkata, following a shift in power, the newly formed government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party has seen five former ministers from the previous Mamata Banerjee administration arrested within just six months. These arrests are linked to alleged corruption and irregularities that occurred during the Trinamool Congress's tenure. Currently, only one of the arrested ministers has been granted bail.
The first to be apprehended was Sujit Bose, the former fire services minister, followed by former transport minister Dilip Mandal, former correctional services minister Ujjwal Biswas, and former minister of North Bengal development Udayan Guha. The latest addition to this list is Indranil Sen, a former minister of tourism and cultural affairs, who was arrested this week in connection with a fraudulent Durga Puja pass scam.
Among the five prominent figures arrested, only Ujjwal Biswas has managed to secure bail so far. Indranil Sen is currently under police remand, while Sujit Bose, Dilip Mandal, and Udayan Guha remain in judicial custody. Sujit Bose's arrest was made by a central investigative agency in relation to the notorious 'cash for jobs' scandal involving municipal bodies in the state. Meanwhile, Dilip Mandal, Ujjwal Biswas, and Udayan Guha face serious allegations of corruption, extortion, and inciting political violence, which are under investigation by the state police.
Indranil Sen's Case Under Scrutiny
Indranil Sen's situation is considered sensitive from both political and legal perspectives. He is the only one among the five leaders facing parallel investigations by both the central agency and Kolkata police regarding the fraudulent 'Durga Puja pass' scheme. This case is linked to special tours and packages associated with the Durga Puja festival, which has been recognized as a cultural heritage by UNESCO. A significant development occurred when the name of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee surfaced during the financial investigation conducted by the agencies.
According to official statements from the investigative agency, approximately 3 million rupees were transferred from the bank accounts of Indranil Sen's company, 'Octave Records,' to the former Chief Minister's account through banking channels. However, Indranil Sen clarified that this transaction was not part of any irregularities but was purely a business royalty payment. Nonetheless, a judicial inquiry commission established by the state government to investigate the alleged institutional corruption during the previous administration has begun a thorough examination of all files and financial transactions related to Sen, suggesting that new revelations may emerge in the coming days.