Calcutta HC stays probe on Narada sting

The Calcutta High Court on Friday ordered an interim stay on the West Bengal government-ordered probe into the Narada sting operation in which several leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress were purportedly seen taking bribe.

The order by a division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice A Banerjee came while hearing petitions seeking independent probe into the sting conducted by portal Narada News.

Staying the probe till August 19, the date of next hearing, the bench said when the matter was being looked into by the court, a parallel investigation cannot be held by police.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in June ordered a probe headed by the city Police Commissioner to find if there was a "conspiracy" behind the sting.

In pursuance of the probe, police booked Mathew Samuel who conducted the sting, on several charges and issued summons for his personal appearance.

Meanwhile, the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Chandigarh which was directed to examine the tapes and the devices used to conduct the sting, submitted its report before the court.

--IANS

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