Narada sting: CBI registers preliminary inquiry, seizes laptop, spy cams used in ops

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], Mar. 20 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday registered a preliminary inquiry into Narada sting operation case that purportedly showed Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders taking bribes. As per sources, the CBI also seized laptop and spy cam used by the Narada News in their string operation. The investigative agency also named West Bengal Chief Minsiter Mamata Banerjee, MPs, police officers and ex-MLA in its preliminary enquiry. Earlier on March 17, the Calcutta High Court ordered a CBI probe into bribery allegations against top TMC parliamentarians and ministers. Reacting to the court's order, Mamata said that she will appeal against the court order in a "higher judiciary". "I will not comment on this, we will approach to the higher judiciary," Mamata said. Coming to the rescue of her ministers, Banerjee said, "Everyone knows this that the sting was published from the Bharatiya Janata Party office. Earlier in April 2016, the court had formed a three-member committee to probe the controversial tapes. Narada News, led by its editor-in-chief Matthew Samuel, had earlier released three sets of videos of its sting operation, where top TMC leaders were allegedly seen accepting bribes from journalists posing as businessmen. The ruling party had dismissed the tapes as 'doctored' and said the 'dirty tricks departments' of its political opponents were behind the 'smear' campaign. (ANI)