Kolkata: Extending its probe into the multi-crore Durga Puja pass ‘scam’, Kolkata Police has now summoned Abheri Sen, daughter of arrested former Bengal minister Indranil Sen, for interrogation. Abheri is likely to come to Lalbazar on Tuesday afternoon.The move comes shortly after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) questioned Indranil’s wife Madhuchhanda on Saturday. Investigators suspect Abheri may have also received a share of the alleged illegal financial transactions associated with the scheme.Police sources said they have found substantial money transfers into bank accounts linked to Abheri. An entity named Third Line Creation — closely linked to the former minister — transferred Rs 66 lakh to Mass Art Society, the probe has revealed. Out of that sum, around Rs 22.5 lakh was allegedly diverted to two corporate entities, iSkope and Mayra, both of which are believed to be controlled by Abheri.The summons followed SIT’s intense questioning of Madhuchhanda, who served as president of Mass Art, the primary organisation under whose banner Durga Puja preview show passes were allegedly sold. Officers said Madhuchhanda’s signature appeared on official organisational documentation, including authorisation requests involving the “commercial use” of the official Unesco logo.Just like Madhuchhanda, Abheri will be questioned on whether there was any “pressure” or “instruction” to receive the payout and whether she was aware of the dealings of Mass Art. Madhuchhanda has claimed before cops that she had objected to how Mass Art was functioning but her protests had been brushed off. Sources said the treasurer of Mass Art will soon be examined over this.The alleged fraud traces back to 2021, following Kolkata Durga Puja’s recognition as Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage. The organisers created Mass Art shortly after, allegedly misrepresenting the initiative as having direct Unesco approval to sell “premium passes” and coordinate “preview shows”.Local Puja committees on Monday told detectives they agreed to participate after seeing the Unesco branding. Staff from Mass Art visited various pandals to coordinate the preview arrangements. However, participating puja organisers received only a token monetary compensation and permission to erect LED advertising gates, which generated between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh in revenue, while the vast bulk of pass proceeds was siphoned off, they alleged.The case originated from a complaint lodged by one Joydeep Mukhopadhyay at Bowbazar police station, leading to an FIR and a parallel financial investigation by Enforcement Directorate.Former Chandernagore MLA Indranil was arrested by police on Oct 28 outside the ED office at Salt Lake after extensive searches at his Kasba residence and a Singur garden house.
