TMC bribe sting video: Congress demands probe, asks EC to intervene

The Congress Party on Wednesday called for a proper investigation into the alleged bribe sting video purportedly showing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders accepting money to help a fictitious private firm.

"It is very surprising. If this matter is probed properly then many ministers of the TMC will be in trouble. This will be a disgraceful chapter in India's history. If the ministers are guilty then there must be a thorough probe into it," Congress leader Pramod Tiwari told ANI.

Echoing similar sentiments, another Congress leader P.L. Punia said that the Election Commission should take note of this matter.

"There should be a proper investigation into the matter," he added.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) yesterday said that it had received representations from political parties on the sting video and added that the matter would be examined.

Earlier, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the CPI (M) sought President's rule in the state over the matter.

However, the TMC accused the Opposition parties of hatching a political conspiracy ahead of the assembly election dubbing the sting operation by a news portal as 'manufactured'.

The sting operation carried out by Narada News and uploaded on its website allegedly shows as many as 11 leaders of West Bengal's ruling TMC, including former union ministers, state ministers and MPs, accepting bribes in return for favours to a fictitious company.

The Trinamool has rubbished the allegations made in the sting operation and threatened legal action against the news portal claiming the videos were doctored.