ED names Mamata Banerjee in money-laundering probe over tenders and Octave Records payments
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Kolkata: Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and ex-Cabinet Minister Indranil Sen have been named by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in its money-laundering investigation linked to Sen’s proprietorship firm, Octave Records, and alleged irregularities in state tourism and cultural department tenders.
Sen is already under the ED scanner in connection with the separate “Mass Art” case, in which the society is accused of selling Durga Puja preview show passes in 2024 and 2025. In the latest probe, the central agency has focused on tenders awarded while Sen was West Bengal Tourism Minister in the previous Trinamool Congress government.
According to an ED statement issued on Thursday evening, multiple tenders from the state tourism and cultural departments, worth more than Rs 85 crore, were awarded to entities owned by Dhrubajyoti Bose and Dipesh Roy, described as close aides of Sen. The agency alleged that these entities subsequently transferred large sums to firms controlled by relatives of Indranil Sen and that massive cash withdrawals were observed from the bank accounts of the companies that secured the tenders.
A detailed investigation revealed that cash of more than Rs 3.3 crore was deposited into the bank accounts of Sen and his proprietorship concern, Octave Records, the statement said. It added that from the Octave Records account, nearly Rs 30 lakh was transferred via banking channels to Mamata Banerjee, then Chief Minister, a payment Sen has claimed was made in the form of royalty.
The ED said incriminating digital devices and documentary evidence were found and seized during search and seizure proceedings, and that further investigation was under way.
There was no immediate reaction from the faction of the Trinamool Congress loyal to Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee. Sen too remained incommunicado and his response was not available.
In the related “Mass Art” case, ED officials on Tuesday conducted a marathon raid and search operation at the residence of Sen and his wife Madhuchhanda Sen at Kasba in south Kolkata. Sen was questioned for about 10 hours at the ED’s Salt Lake office on Wednesday and on Thursday was served with a fresh notice asking him to appear for another round of questioning next week.
(Inputs from IANS)