Narada sting: Kolkata Mayor Shovan Chatterjee skips ED's summon, seeks more time

Earlier on Jul 5, ED reportedly served notices to three TMC lawmakers, including Sovan Chatterjee, deputy mayor of Kolkata and TMC MLA Iqbal Ahmed and Trinamool MP from Uluberia Lok Sabha constituency, Sultan Ahmed, in connection with its ongoing probe into Narada sting and had asked them to appear before its office at CGO Complex in Kolkata's Salt Lake area on Monday (Jul 10), Wednesday (Jul 12) and Thursday (Jul 13), respectively.

An ED source said that Shovan Chatterjee's counsel visited its office in the morning and shouted more time for his client's attendance.  

"His counsel told us that Shovan Chatterjee could not appear for interrogation today as he was busy in administrative works and he sought more time from us," an ED official told IBNS. "Granting his appeal, ED has served its second notice to Shovan Chatterjee through his counsel, asking him to visit our office in next two weeks."

Since Mar 14 last year, news portal- Narada News- released several sting operation footage, where TMC's leaders, ministers, MPs and MLAs were allegedly shown as taking bribes.

From the beginning, TMC leadership has claimed that the sting footage was doctored and a conspiracy of the Opposition.  

After getting direction from the Calcutta High Court and Supreme Court, the CBI has started a probe into the case.

On April 17, the investigation agency registered an FIR in connection with the case under several non-bailable sections against 12 influential leaders, cabinet ministers, MLAs and MPs of TMC and one senior IPS officer, who were allegedly  seen taking bribes in the sting footage, reports said.

Besides CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), has registered a money laundering case in Narada sting and is currently investigating the case. 

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)