TMC leader summoned by police in connection with Narada sting

Kolkata, Jul 19: Kolkata Police on Monday summoned Trinamool Congress leader and MLA Iqbal Ahmed in connection with its probe into the Narada sting operation.

According to a senior officer the TMC MLA has been asked to appear before the Economic Offences Wing at the Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar tomorrow evening.

Iqbal, the younger brother of TMC MP Sultan Ahmed, was purportedly shown accepting money in a controversial Narada sting tapes. Kolkata Police sleuths had last week questioned IPS officer S M Hussain Mirza twice in connection with the investigation into the sting operation.

Mirza's statements were recorded and video graphed during his long hours of grilling. On June 17, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had ordered a probe by police into the sting operation and had claimed her party had not taken "a single penny" from anyone in the Saradha chit fund scam and the Narada sting operation.

A Special Investigation Team under Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar was formed to conduct the probe.

The next day, Kolkata Mayor and Minister Sovan Chattopadhyay's wife Ratna filed a complaint against Narada News CEO Mathew Samuel, who was then booked under IPC sections 469 (forgery for purpose of harming reputation), 500 (defamation), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), 171 (G) (false statement in connection with an election) and 120(B) (criminal conspiracy).

An investigation into the Narada sting operation is on by the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, while a case on the issue is pending in the Calcutta High Court.

PTI