The Narada News sting operation that purportedly showed several Trinamool leaders including (MLAs and MPs) taking bribes will be investigated by the central Bureau of Investigation, Calcutta High COurt ordered on Friday.
Coming down heavily upon West Bengal police, the High Court said, “The state police are at best, unfortunately, puppets on a string, the end of which is with the respondents. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that the preliminary inquiry should be conducted by a neutral and independent investigating agency.”
Delivering the order in a packed courtroom, a Division Bench of acting Chief Justice Nishita Mhatre and Justice T. Chakraborty asked the CBI to take within 24 hours the custody of devices used during the sting operation and reports of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory lying in court custody.
“The CBI must act promptly since persons with doubtful integrity, and who commit crimes affecting society at large, must be brought to book swiftly,” the court said in its 58-page judgment on three public interest litigations that sought inquiry by an independent agency.
Describing the court order as unfortunate, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said,it would be challenged in the Supreme Court.
Following the court order the opposition parties went tongs and hammers against the state’s ruling party and demanded dismissal of the accused ministers.
(IANS inputs)
