Narada scam: CBI arrests two West Bengal minsters, Mamata Banerjee goes to probe agency’s office

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday arrested West Bengal Ministers Firhad Hakim and Subrata Mukherjee and Trinamool Congress MLA Madan Mitra in the Narada bribery case, PTI reported.

Former Trinamool Congress leader Sovan Chatterjee has also been arrested in the case, according to the news agency. He had quit Trinamool Congress in 2019 to join Bharatiya Janata Party, but left the saffron party too, in March. He did not contest the elections this year.

Hakim alleged that he was arrested in the case without prior notice, News18 reported. “I will challenge my arrest in court,” he added.

Shortly after the developments, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other Trinamool Congress leaders went to the CBI’s office, ANI reported.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrives at the CBI office pic.twitter.com/FM2B1zaeWL

— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2021

The bribery case involves videos published by Narada News, in which several Trinamool Congress leaders were allegedly seen accepting cash in return for favours. The videos, shot by the website’s Chief Executive Mathew Samuel, were released ahead of the state Assembly elections in 2016.

Seven of the then Trinamool Congress MPs were also involved in the scam. Of them, Suvendu Adhikari and Mukul Roy are now with the BJP, while Sultan Ahmed…

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