In another case of alleged corruption involving Trinamool Congress leaders, a police complaint has been filed against former West Bengal minister and popular Bengali singer Indranil Sen, his wife Madhuchhanda Sen, and three others for illegally using UNESCO’s name and logo to sell premium-access tickets for Durga Puja events.
The complaint submitted to the Kolkata Police Commissioner, the West Bengal Director General of Police and the officer-in-charge of the Bowbazar Police Station, was filed by Meghdoot Foundation through its representatives, Joydeep Mukhopadhyay and Saguna Mukhopadhyay.
The accused were allegedly selling “privileged pre-Puja entry” and preview-show tickets using UNESCO’s name and logo, falsely creating the impression that the event had the approval of the international body.
Meghdoot Foundation stated that UNESCO has never engaged in any such arrangement and has no association with the event. The complainants said they have submitted all documentary evidence to the police to establish that UNESCO has no connection with the event.
“Since 2022, the aforesaid organisation falsely claimed to be the official partners of UNESCO to promote Durga Puja in the State of West Bengal. The organisation was supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of West Bengal and the Ministry of Information and Culture, Govt. of West Bengal. As a result of such false claims of association with UNESCO, the accused persons cheated the common people and carried out an extortion racket in the Stute of West Bengal. Such extortion and theft were actively supported by the erstwhile Government of West Bengal through its Minister, namely, Indrunil Sen,” the complaint mentioned.
The accused persons sold tickets worth Rs. 4,000 for ‘Preview Shows’ of selected 24 Durga Puja Pandals in Kolkata which were selected by the organisation Mass Art, claiming falsely as being selected by UNESCO, the complaint further detailed.
The tickets of such ‘Preview Show’ would indicate their false claim of partnership with UNESCO. The organisation also promised that during such Preview Shows a delegation from UNESCO along with other international delegations would visit the selected 24 pandals.
“Such false claims of association with a reputed international organisation along with a false claim of visits by international delegation to the 24 selected Durga Puja pandals were made to cheat the public at large by selling tickets. Such false representations were also made to rope in brands for advertisements,” it read.
The Kolkata Police has not issued any official statement on this matter till the time of filing the report. Police sources said that the documents submitted along with the complaint are currently being examined. No charges have been framed against any of the individuals named in the complaint.