ED registers PMLA case in Narada sting involving TMC leaders

Alleging political vendetta, Mamata Banerjee-led TMC has said that the CBI is acting at the behest of the Modi government to target its leaders.
Police detain a Congress activist during a protest against TMC leaders involved in the Narada scam, in Kolkata on Thursday (File | PTI)
Police detain a Congress activist during a protest against TMC leaders involved in the Narada scam, in Kolkata on Thursday (File | PTI)

KOLKATA: Just a day after the conclusion of BJP president Amit Shah's three-day visit to West Bengal, Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday booked a money laundering case against 13 accused in Narada sting operation, including 12 Trinamool Congress leaders.

The case has been booked under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and is based on the CBI FIR filed earlier this month against the accused. Sources revealed that the accused may soon be summoned separately for questioning. ED reportedly wants to know what the TMC leaders did with the bribe money they were caught accepting in the Narada TV footages.

West Bengal chief minister had on Thursday reiterated her accusation that the Centre was playing vendetta politics by using CBI and ED against her. The ED is also probing Rose Valley and Saradha scams.

Neither the party nor the chief minister has issued any statement after the fresh case registered by ED. Mamata Banerjee’s party received the first big jolt in the Narada sting when CBI booked an FIR against the 13 accused on April 17. Though the agency had planned to summon the accused for interrogation from the week after the registration of the FIR, none of the accused has been called for interrogation yet.

However, it is believed that CBI might have waited for ED to book the money laundering case after which the interrogation might be deeper and multidimensional. The CBI and ED may summon the accused in quick succession. If that happens, the Trinamool Congress would be under immense pressure in the coming few weeks.

With the BJP climbing to the second position in the by-elections — by eating into CPM and Congress votes — and top Trinamool Congress leaders being booked or jailed in Narada or Rose Valley scam, Mamata Banerjee has a lot on her plate.

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