Narada probe political: Mamata

WEST BENGAL Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday came out in defence of accused party leaders after the CBI filed an FIR against 12 TMC leaders in the Narada sting operation case.

She termed the Narada probe a “political game”. “There is no need to worry. This is a political game and we will fight it politically. Filing an FIR does not prove that the leaders are guilty,” Banerjee said.

The CBI has filed an FIR against 12 TMC leaders, including Ministers and MPS, in the Narada sting case where these leaders have been shown accepting cash.

The sting operation was conducted by Narada News and while the filming supposedly took place in 2014, the tapes were released ahead of the 2016 West Bengal Assembly elections.

Mamata fought the elections under the shadow of the Narada sting, which however did not seem to affect the election results. TMC won resoundingly.

Trinamool Secretary General Partha Chatterjee said the party “would do the needful to counter this’’. “We will do whatever is required... But there is a suspicion, why is everything being done right now,” Chatterjee said.

State Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who has been named in the CBI FIR, said it was a conspiracy against the TMC. “Everybody knows that it is not corruption but a conspiracy. We will fight it legally,” he said. Most other leaders named in the FIR did not comment on the matter.

Party vice-president Mukul Roy said: “I am a man of the party. Whatever statement my party makes is my statement.’’

Speakingtotheindianexpress, state Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee said: “I will not say anything on this. Our party will comment.”

TMC MP Sultan Ahmed said he would not comment on the matter as it is sub-judice.

Mamata Banerjee