Bengal IPS officer questioned in Narada sting

Indian Police Service (IPS) officer S.M.H. Meerza, summoned for questioning in connection with the Narada sting probe, appeared before the police and recorded his statement on Wednesday.

The sting, conducted by Narada News, accused several high profile leaders of West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress and also Meerza, a former superintendent of police of Burdwan, of taking bribes.

Currently posted as Commandant of Special Striking Force, Barrackpore, Meerza was in the city police headquarters for nearly three hours.

"He came and his statement was recorded by the investigating officer in the case," Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police Vishal Garg said.

Chief Minister and Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee had in June ordered a probe headed by city police commissioner to find if there was a "conspiracy" behind the sting.

The city police have also twice summoned Narada News editor-in-chief Mathew Samuel, who had conducted the sting.

But the journalist, who has been booked for several offences, including defamation and forgery, is yet to appear for questioning and has twice written to the police seeking withdrawal of the summons, as he contended the matter was pending before the Calcutta High Court.

Multiple litigations seeking an independent probe into the sting are pending before the court which has ordered a forensic test of the footage and devices used for the sting.

--IANS

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