CBI court grants bail to 4 TMC leaders in connection with Narada sting case

Kolkata: A special CBI court on Monday granted bail to four leaders in connection with Narada sting case.The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had sought 14 days judicial remand for the arrested leaders.

Special CBI court judge Anupam Mukherjee granted bail to senior ministers Subrata Mukherjee and Firhad Hakim, Trinamool Congress MLA Madan Mitra and former minister Sovan Chatterjee after hearing their lawyers and the counsel for the agency, lawyer Anindya Raut said.

The anti-corruption wing of the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested ministers Subrata Mukherjee and Firhad Hakim, Mr Mitra and former city mayor Sovan Chatterjee in connection with the Narada sting operation case.

The central investigation agency's officials visited their house on Monday morning and brought the leaders for questioning at their office in Kolkata's Nizam Palace.

All four arrested politicians were produced in a city court later today.They have been arrested under sections 120b of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections 7 and 13(1)(a) 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankar recently sanctioned prosecution of the four politicians, who have been accused of the Narada sting operation scam five years ago in 2016.

"The CBI did not intimate us (about the arrests). If they have been arrested, it is illegal.

The prior permission of the speaker of the legislative assembly is required for it, but it was not taken. This is undemocratic," a separate report quoting West Bengal assembly speaker Biman Banerjee said.

Dhankhar urges Mamata to follow constitutional norms and rule of law

Earlier, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar today urged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to follow constitutional norms and rule of law as chaos erupted over the arrest of Trinamool Congress party members by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Dhankhar tweeted, 'Concerned at alarming situation. Call upon @MamataOfficial to follow constitutional norms & rule of law. Police@WBPolice @KolkataPolice@HomeBengal must take all steps to maintain law & order. Sad- situation is being allowed to drift with no tangible action by authorities.'

“Total lawlessness & anarchy. Police and administration in silence mode. Hope you realize repercussions of such lawlessness and failure of the constitutional mechanism. Time to reflect and contain this explosive situation that is worsening minute by minute,” the Governor tweeted.

Dhankhar also asked West Bengal Police, Kolkata Police, and the state home department to take necessary steps to maintain law and order.

'Invited attention @MamataOfficial “On channels and in the public domain I notice arson and pelting of stones at CBI office. Pathetic that Kolkata Police @KolkataPolice and West Bengal Police @WBPolice are just onlookers. Appeal to you to act and restore law and order, ' he added.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's senior cabinet ministers Subrata Mukherjee and Firhad Hakim and two others, including TMC MLA Madan Mitra, have been arrested on Monday by the CBI in connection with the Narada sting operation case.

The anti-corruption wing of the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested ministers Subrata Mukherjee and Firhad Hakim, Mitra and former city mayor Sovan Chatterjee in connection with the Narada sting operation case.

The central investigation agency's officials visited their house on Monday morning and brought the leaders for questioning at their office in Kolkata's Nizam Palace.

Dhankhar recently sanctioned the prosecution of the four politicians, who have been accused of the Narada sting operation scam five years ago in 2016.(UNI)