The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the Narada news sting videos where several Trinamool Congress [TMC] leaders were purportedly seen accepting cash on camera.
The order, delivered by the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Nishita Mhatre and Justice Tapabrata Chakrabarty, directed the CBI to conduct preliminary investigation in 72 hours and register a case. The court also directed that all materials and documents pertaining to the case be handed over to CBI in the next 24 hours.
" Prima facie, we feel that a cognizable offence has been committed,” Justice Mhatre said while reading the order in a packed courtroom. She also said that in this case "State police has ended up being with the respondents".
Soon after the order, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called a press conference later in the day.
The court also directed disciplinary proceedings against SMH Mirza, senior police officer, who was seen accepting cash on camera in the Narada videos.
The videos made public by news portal Narada News , surfaced just before 2016 Assembly polls in the State and created a political furore.
About 11 senior Trinamool Congress leaders, including MPs and State Cabinet Ministers along with the senior police officer, were caught on camera accepting cash or seen negotiating with employees of a fictitious company.
