Kolkata: SIT arrests corporate official in fake Durga Puja pass scam
The arrest of Dhrubojyoti Basu follows the previous detention of former West Bengal Tourism Minister Indranil Sen in the multi-crore fraud case.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kolkata Police arrested Dhrubojyoti Basu, a senior corporate official, on Wednesday night. Basu is a top executive at Mass Art, the company allegedly used to market and sell fraudulent Durga Puja passes involving UNESCO-tagged festival tours.
According to Telangana Today, Basu had been absconding since last week after the arrest of former West Bengal Tourism Minister Indranil Sen. While Mass Art was officially headed by Sen's wife, Madhuchhanda Sen, investigators allege the entity was the brainchild of Sen and Basu.
Investigators claim the duo used the organisation to create a corruption network to profit from unauthorised passes. Madhuchhanda Sen, who is also named in the First Information Report (FIR), has been granted anticipatory bail by the Calcutta High Court after two rounds of questioning.
The SIT has questioned nine other people, including Madhuchhanda Sen. Authorities said the daughter of the couple, Averi Sen, and her linked corporate entities are also under financial and administrative scrutiny.
Indranil Sen is currently in police custody and is undergoing daily interrogations. He is scheduled to be produced before a lower court in Kolkata on November 10.
The case is being investigated by the Kolkata Police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Police officials stated they are collecting forensic and documentary evidence to address potential bail applications at the next hearing.