Former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen arrested in Durga Puja pass case

Kolkata Police arrested former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, soon after he left the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office at the CGO Complex in Salt Lake (The Hindu, DNA India, The Free Press Journal). The case concerns alleged financial irregularities in Durga Puja preview shows and the sale of entry passes (The New Indian Express, The Times of India).

What every report agrees on

Reports agree that Sen, a Trinamool Congress leader who held the tourism and information and cultural affairs portfolios, was taken into custody by the city police after ED questioning (The New Indian Express, Yes Punjab, Hindustan Times). Several say the Detective Department of Kolkata Police made the arrest (The Free Press Journal, Asianet Newsable, Republic World). The investigation centres on the MassArt society, which Hindustan Times describes as headed by Sen's wife (Hindustan Times), and which is alleged to have falsely claimed a link to UNESCO (Asianet Newsable, India Today). The ED and Kolkata Police are both investigating, and the ED probe stems from a complaint at Bowbazar police station (DNA India). Most reports describe the wrongdoing as alleged (The New Indian Express, Yes Punjab, India Today).

How the left-leaning press told it

Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express and The Hindu: Police and ED fraud probe

Outlets rated centre-left reported the arrest as part of a police and ED inquiry into alleged irregularities in Durga Puja preview pass sales (The New Indian Express, Hindustan Times). Hindustan Times focused on the Mass Art Society headed by Sen's wife (Hindustan Times), while The Hindu described the matter as a Durga Puja ticket scam case and noted he was arrested immediately after leaving the ED office (The Hindu).

How the right-leaning press told it

Republic World, ABP Live, India Today and The Times of India: Police and ED fraud probe

Outlets rated right and centre-right also led with the arrest after ED questioning (ABP Live, India Today). Republic World, rated right, initially reported Sen as detained and being taken to Lalbazar (Republic World). ABP Live said the arrest was for alleged non-cooperation (ABP Live), India Today cited a sum of Rs 50-60 crore (India Today), and The Times of India carried Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's allegation that Mamata Banerjee may have benefited (The Times of India).

The coverage of this story does not divide along left and right lines.

What the record shows

The sums cited vary by outlet: Mathrubhumi and India Today put the alleged irregularities at ₹50–60 crore (Mathrubhumi, India Today), while The Avenue Mail cites ₹60 crore (The Avenue Mail). Yes Punjab says investigators accuse Sen and his wife, Madhuchanda Sen (Yes Punjab). ABP Live reports the arrest was for alleged non-cooperation and that the case involves transactions with companies linked to him (ABP Live); other reports do not give that reason. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari alleged that former chief minister Mamata Banerjee may have benefited and said the probe could widen (The Times of India, National Herald). National Herald reports that the CPI(M) raised questions about the action (National Herald). No report records a court finding on Sen's guilt.

Drafted by the Alethman engine from 14 independent reports, and checked by an editor before publication. An outlet's side comes from published media-bias ratings (Media Bias/Fact Check, AllSides) or documented ownership, named under the coverage bar; Alethman does not rate outlets itself.