CBI quizzes TMC MP Prasun Banerjee in Narada sting

According to reports, after being summoned by the Central probe agency,  TMC MP from Howrah Lok Sabha constituency, Prasun Banerjee, appeared at the CBI's office in south Kolkata's Nizam Palace around 11 am.

After an hour-long questioning session, Prasun Banerjee confessed that he took money money from Mathew Samuel as donation for Lok Sabha polls.

"I was quizzed by CBI today and my statement was recorded," Banerjee told reporters while leaving the Central investigation agency's office.

"I told investigators that I had taken the money legally as election donation and did not promise any favour in his business against it," Banerjee added. "I've submitted my passbook to the CBI where these transactions are mentioned."

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, the 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 the 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 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, Image: Narada News)