The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined West Bengal Trinamool Congress leaders' plea to set aside a Calcutta High Court order directing the CBI to investigate a Narada News' 'sting' operation .
A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar, recorded in an order that there is no infirmity in the March 17, 2017 High Court order based on the material aspects of the case placed before it and the CBI should be permitted to carry out its job of conducting a preliminary enquiry unfettered.
"We find no infirmity in the determination of the HC. Rights of the petitioners (people allegedly caught on footage taking cash for favours to be done) have been protected as an FIR has been required," the court said.
The petitioners will have ample opportunity to assail the validity of the findings of the CBI's enquiry in case an FIR is registered, it said.
The Supreme Court, however, extended the 72-hour deadline given to the CBI to complete the preliminary enquiry, observing that it was "rather harsh". The court gave the CBI a month’s time to complete the preliminary enquiry.
The court said that in case the CBI needed further time, it shall be open to the premier investigating agency to move an application before the High Court and ask for such time.
The court said the CBI would arrive at independent conclusions and shall not be swayed by the inference and conclusions drawn by the High Court.
News website Narada News allegedly caught visuals of top Trinamool leaders taking money from a man who was apparently seeking favours from the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal.
Trinamool leaders Saugata Roy and others moved the Supreme Court to stop the CBI probe.
