Kolkata: Calcutta high court on Monday verbally directed no coercive action till July 8 against former minister Indranil Sen in alleged Durga puja preview show controversy. The HC also directed the state to submit a progress report on the case.Sen’s counsel submitted that there were allegations of collecting money using UNESCO’s name.The complainant’s lawyer submitted that he has been working in event promotion business for years and has also promoted various Durga Puja events. It was alleged that money was collected from some 200 people. Meanwhile the counsel for police submitted that money was allegedly collected under the guise of ‘preview shows.’ It was submitted that payments were accepted via GPay.“How can public money be collected through a private entity?” the complainant’s counsel questioned. Justice Jay Sengupta questioned whether this money was collected using the UNESCO logo. “This is a serious matter,” the judge remarked.The complainant alleged that the sale of preview tickets and privileged entry were done in the name of UNESCO. It was alleged that e-mails received from UNESCO and related legal documents have been submitted with the complaint, which do not mention any approval for such commercial use.
