West Bengal to challenge HC order for CBI probe in Narada sting case: Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA: Calling the verdict of the Calcutta High Court in Narada sting operation case as “the most unfortunate” of its kind that left her “shocked”, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her party would move Supreme Court in this case.

Earlier in the morning, the bench of acting Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court Nishita Mhatre and Justice T Chakraborty directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry into the Narada sting operation case and submit a report to the court within 72 hours. The sting operation conducted by journalist Mathew Samuel brought to fore some bribery allegations against top Trinamool Congress parliamentarians and ministers.

The purported video footagehad surfaced before the 2016 assembly polls.


The order opens with an observation, “An extremely disturbing and alarming issue has arisen before us regarding alleged acts of corruption committed by persons who hold high public offices in the State of West Bengal.

It is disquieting and deplorable to say the least. If the allegations are true such persons have no business to continue in the positions they hold today either as elected representatives of the people of West Bengal or as Ministers of the Government of West Bengal or in employment as a senior officer in the State’s Police force.”

In the later part, the court finally said, “.. the Respondents are all holding high public offices and are able to wield power, influence and political clout in the State of West Bengal.

It is in these circumstances that I feel that this is an apt case where the jurisdiction of the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India must be exercised by ordering an inquiry by the CBI into the entire episode. The State Police are at best, unfortunately, puppets on a string, the end of which is with the Respondents.

There is no other investigating agency besides the CBI which is ‘independent’ and therefore, it is essential that the preliminary enquiry should be conducted by that agency.”

Reacting sharply to the “puppet” comment, Banerjee said it was wrong to humiliate police force like this. She also said, “Kolkata Police were not allowed to investigate. They registered an FIR and initiated investigation. But in 24 hours, the court issued a stay order.”