Arrest Spree Hits Former Bengal Ministers Since BJP Took Charge

Kolkata, October 31: Since the BJP-led government took office in West Bengal, five former ministers from the Trinamool Congress regime of Mamata Banerjee have been arrested. Within the first six months of the new government, these arrests have raised questions about the cases built around the previous administration. Only one of the five is currently out on bail.

The first arrest was that of Sujit Bose, the former state minister for fire services. Dilip Mondal, a former minister of state for transport, Ujjal Biswas, a former minister for correctional services, and Udayan Guha, who handled the North Bengal Development Department, were arrested later.

The newest addition is Indranil Sen, a former tourism minister and former minister of state for information and cultural affairs. Sen, a singer who entered politics, was arrested earlier this week over an alleged fake 'Durga Puja Pass' scam. The scam involves tours connected to the Durga Puja festival, which is recognised by UNESCO.

At present, Ujjal Biswas is the only one of the five out on bail. Sen remains in police custody, while Bose and the other three former ministers are in judicial custody.

The arrests have come through different channels. The Enforcement Directorate took Sujit Bose into custody in a case of alleged 'jobs for cash' racketeering in municipal body recruitments, involving crores of rupees. The West Bengal Police arrested Dilip Mondal, Ujjal Biswas and Udayan Guha in cases of corruption, extortion and political violence.

Indranil Sen was arrested by the Kolkata Police this week. He is the only person among the five against whom both the ED and the Kolkata Police are running parallel investigations into the alleged fake 'Durga Puja Pass' scam.

The case against Sen has drawn особое attention because the ED probe has named former chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Earlier this month, the ED issued a statement linking Banerjee to a transaction involving Octave Records, a company owned by Sen. According to the agency, around Rs 30 lakh was allegedly transferred to Banerjee from the company's accounts through banking channels. Sen has said the amount was paid as royalty.

Meanwhile, a judicial commission set up by the state government to examine alleged institutional corruption under the previous TMC government has begun looking into the matter involving Sen.