Narada sting: Mathew Samuel seeks withdrawal of summons

Kolkata: Citing the matter to be sub-judice, Narada News editor in chief Mathew Samuel on Thursday urged the Kolkata police to withdraw the summons issued against him in connection with the probe into a sting operation that allegedly caught several Trinamool Congress leaders taking bribe.

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee had ordered the probe to find if there was a "conspiracy" behind the sting. The city police subsequently registered a case against Samuel and summoned him for personal appearance.

"Since the matter is pending before the Calcutta High Court, I have yet again asked the Kolkata police to withdraw the summons," said Samuel.

This is the second time he has asked for withdrawing the summons after the police issued a fresh summons on July 1. He was summoned for the first time on June 23 following which he had made a similar request.

Samuel also claimed that he was yet to get a copy of the complaint on the basis of which the case against him has been initiated.

In pursuance of a complaint filed by the wife of city mayor and state minister Sovan Chatterjee, police slapped charges of forgery, defamation and criminal conspiracy against the portal and Samuel.

Released in March during the assembly polls, the sting purportedly showed a host of Trinamool high profile leaders including state ministers and former union ministers taking wads of currency notes in return for favour to a fictitious company.

The Calcutta High Court which is hearing multiple litigations seeking independent probe into the matter, on June 24 ordered forensic examination of the footage and devices used for conducting the sting.