Narada sting: Former Bengal minister Madan Mitra appears before ED for interrogation

According to reports, after being summoned, former cabinet minister Madan Mitra, along with his counsel, reached ED office at CGO Complex in Kolkata's Salt Lake area at around 12 pm.

ED sources said that its officials are currently quizzing Madan Mitra and recording his statement.

Earlier, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) interrogated Madan Mitra in connection with the same case and visited his flat at Dakshineswar near Kolkata, where Narada News's ex-CEO Mathew Samuel allegedly handed over money to the former TMC lawmaker, to reconstruct the money transaction episode.

Meanwhile, a six-member team of CBI on Monday visited the offices of the MPs of Haldia and Tamluk Lok Sabha constituencies in East Medinipur district of West Bengal for reconstruction in connection with their ongoing probe into Narada sting operation, according to sources.

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

From the beginning, TMC leadership had claimed that the sting footage was doctored and a conspiracy of the opposition parties.

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

On Apr 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 seen allegedly taking bribes in the sting footage, reports said.

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

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)