The Trinamool Congress (TMC) criticized the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday, arguing that almost 98 per cent of the agency’s cases against politicians target opposition leaders. TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale said the remaining 2 per cent involved those who had joined the BJP’s “washing machine.” He also questioned how many ED cases actually reached the trial stage.
The criticism followed the ED’s report on alleged financial irregularities in the management of Durga Puja “Preview Shows” organized by the MassArt society. The agency found that a company linked to former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen transferred nearly Rs 30 lakh through banking channels to the accounts of former chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Sen claimed the payment was a “royalty,” and the ED did not label the transaction criminal.
The ED’s investigation also revealed that more than Rs 3.8 crore in cash was deposited into Sen’s bank accounts and those of his proprietorship, Octave Records, during his tenure. The money‑laundering case stems from an FIR filed at Bowbazar police station against Sen, his wife, and others who allegedly collected money from the public through MassArt between 2022 and 2025 by falsely claiming UNESCO sponsorship and then using the funds for personal gain.
Gokhale highlighted that in the last 11 years, 5,297 cases were filed by the ED, but only 47 reached trial. He cited a 0.7 per cent conviction rate, arguing that out of every 1,000 cases filed, only seven result in convictions, and only one out of every 100 cases actually makes it to court.
