Authority: Hon'ble High Court, Calcutta

Order Date: 15 Oct 2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioner: Indranil Sen, former Minister of State (Information and Cultural Affairs), Minister of State (Tourism), and Minister of State (Independent Charge, Technical Education, Training and Skill) in West Bengal (May 2021 – May 2026).
  • Respondent/State: State of West Bengal represented by Additional Advocate General.
  • Nature of Proceeding: Application under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023 and Section 438 of the Cr.P.C. for anticipatory bail (CRM (A) 1704 of 2026) arising from Bowbazar PS Case No. 102 of 2026.
  • Allegations: Accused of cheating the public (2022‑2024) through the organization Mahanirban Road Mass Art Society (“Mass Art”) by falsely claiming UNESCO affiliation to sell preview‑show tickets. The State alleges abuse of official position, diversion of government money, and corruption in tender processes.
  • Financial Details Presented by the State:
  • Tender awarded to GIDI Creation worth ₹53.46 crore.
  • ₹50.31 crore of that amount paid to Third Line Creation.
  • ₹4.5 lakh transferred to Mass Art.
  • Third Line Creation further paid ₹66 lakh to Mass Art.
  • ₹22.47 lakh paid to accounts of ISCAPE and Myra (entities controlled by the petitioner’s daughter).
  • ₹128 lakh forwarded to the petitioner’s personal account.
  • The State indicated that investigation is ongoing and the total amount may increase.
  • Petitioner’s Defence:
  • Argues FIR is vague, lacking specifics on nature, extent, and his role.
  • Claims ticket sales were minimal and did not require governmental support.
  • States his wife is an office‑bearer of Mass Art; his earnings as a professional singer are substantial and reflected in declared assets.
  • Asserts that Third Line Creation had participated in 40‑45 tenders before his ministerial tenure, implying no causal link.
  • Contends that, being out of office, there is no possibility of evidence tampering; therefore custodial interrogation is unnecessary.
  • Court’s Observations:
  • The State successfully demonstrated a nexus between the petitioner and GIDI Creation and Third Line Creation.
  • Office‑bearers of Mass Art include the petitioner’s wife and directors of the tender‑winning entities.
  • The court noted “trappings of corruption” as government money appears to have been diverted through the tender process, enriching the petitioner and his family.
  • Concluded that the petitioner failed to establish any ground for anticipatory bail.

Final Outcome

  • The anticipatory bail petition of Indranil Sen is rejected.
  • CRM (A) 1704 of 2026 is dismissed.
  • Parties are directed to obtain a certified copy of the order from the official website of the Hon'ble High Court, Calcutta, subject to requisite formalities.

Topics: Anticipatory Bail, Corruption, Tender Fraud