CBI arrests IPS officer in Narada sting operation case

CBI arrested IPS officer S M H Mirza on Thursday in relation to the Narada sting operation case— a first such arrest in the case.

Later in the day, Mirza was remanded to CBI custody till September 30.

The footage of the sting operation, conducted by journalist Mathew Samuels, purportedly showed several senior TMC leaders including ministers taking cash had surfaced on March 14, 2016 days ahead of the Assembly elections creating a political furore in West Bengal.

Senior TMC leaders such as Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee, former minister Madan Mitra, MP Prasun Banerjee, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Saugata Roy, former TMC leaders Mukul Roy and Sovan Chatterjee— who have now joined the BJP— were among those who featured in the video purportedly taking cash.

According to CBI sources, Mirza was arrested after being questioned by investigators at its office in Nizam Palace in Kolkata. Mirza who was the Superintendent of Police of the then undivided Bardhaman district in 2016 was summoned nine times by the CBI and interrogated.

“There were several inconsistencies in his statements and he avoided answering key questions. Hence we arrested him for custodial interrogation,” a senior CBI official said.

During the hearing, the CBI counsel argued that custodial interrogation of Mirza was necessary as he was suppressing information and not cooperating in the investigation.

However, Mirza’s counsel argued that he was turned up for questioning whenever the CBI summoned him and was cooperating in the probe. He asked that in such a situation what was the need to arrest him.

Reacting to the development, TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said, “I don’t have to comment on who arrested whom.”

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh welcomed the arrest and said, “the truth must come out. This (arrest of Mirza) should have happened earlier.”

Meanwhile, the CBI has summoned Mukul Roy for questioning in relation to the case.

According to CBI sources Roy has been asked to appear before them on Friday. However, Roy said that he is yet to receive the summon.