Authority: Calcutta High Court (Justice Tirthankar Ghosh)

Order Date: 15 Oct 2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Petitioners – Madhuchhanda Sen (President, Mass Art Society, wife of former Minister Indranil Sen), Ranjan Chatterjee (Treasurer, Mass Art Society, partner of Third Line Creation), Dhrubajyoti Bose (Secretary, Mass Art Society, Managing Director & Director of Bridging Brands Private Limited, partner of Third Line Creation); Respondent – State of West Bengal represented by AAG and PP; Defacto‑complainant – Atanu Ghosh.
  • Proceedings: Application under Section 482 BNSS, 2023 and Section 438 Cr.P.C. (CRM (A) 1706 of 2026) arising from G.R. (NS) No. 394 of 2026, Bowbazar PS Case No. 102 of 2026.
  • Allegations: Misuse of office by former Minister Indranil Sen; diversion of government funds to accounts of Sen and family; use of Mass Art Society, Bridging Brands Private Ltd and Third Line Creation as shell entities; unauthorized preview shows, ticket sales, commercial donor passes, and irregular tender awards from the Information and Cultural Affairs Ministry.

Observations & Reasoning

  • The court found no necessity for custodial detention of all accused.
  • Petitioner No.1 (Madhuchhanda Sen) is a woman and not the architect of the scheme; anticipatory bail allowed.
  • Petitioner No.3 (Ranjan Chatterjee) involvement limited to organizing preview shows and ticket sales; no other overt acts identified; anticipatory bail allowed.
  • Petitioner No.2 (Dhrubajyoti Bose) implicated in masking proceeds of crime, money movement, and repeated participation in tenders awarded by the Ministry, thereby enriching Indranil Sen and himself; anticipatory bail rejected.

Directions

  • If arrested, Madhuchhanda Sen and Ranjan Chatterjee shall be released on anticipatory bail subject to conditions under Section 438(2) Cr.P.C. and Section 482(2) BNSS, 2023.
  • They must make themselves available to the investigating agency as and when required.
  • The order is partially allowed.

Final Outcome

  • Anticipatory bail granted to Madhuchhanda Sen and Ranjan Chatterjee.
  • Anticipatory bail denied to Dhrubajyoti Bose.

Topics: Anticipatory Bail, Political Corruption, Misuse of Office