Narada sting: ED registers case against TMC leaders

The Central Bureau of Investigation had already registered FIRs in the case naming 13 accused persons including senior TMC leaders Mukul Roy and Madan Mitra.

Trouble has mounted for Trinamool Congress leaders as Enforcement Directorate on Friday has registered a cases in connection with the alleged Narada sting case.

The agency, officials said, has registered the case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act based on a CBI FIR. It will probe the 'proceeds of crime' generated in this case and soon summonses would be issued to the accused for questioning, they said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had already registered FIRs in the case naming 13 accused persons including senior TMC leaders Mukul Roy and Madan Mitra. The FIRs have been lodged under the Prevention of Corruption Act and for conspiracy.

In March, the agency was asked by the Supreme Court to probe Narada sting and was given a month time. Its one-month deadline ended on April 21.

The sting was conducted under the supervision of Narada News founder Mathew Samuel over a period of two years. Mathew approached several TMC ministers, asking them for favours in return of money.

The Narada sting tapes were released to different news organisations before the 2016 assembly elections in West Bengal.

TMC leaders seen in the footage:

Firhad Hakim, Mukul Rai, Saugata Roy, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Sultan Ahmed, Subrata Mukherjee, Subhendu Adhikari, Sovan Chatterjee, MP Aparupa Poddar, Madan Mitra, Iqbal Ahmed, Prasun Banerjee and HMS Mirza.

Alleging political vendetta, Mamata Banerjee-led TMC has said that the CBI is acting at the behest of the Modi government to target its leaders

(with inputs from agencies)