HC terms state police as “puppet on a string” in Narada case

Kolkata, March 18 (IANS) The Calcutta High Court division bench division bench that ordered a CBI preliminary inquiry into the Narada sting footage case, termed the role played by the state police in the matter as "puppets on a string".

"The state police, unfortunately, puppets on a string, the end of which is with the respondents. Therefore it is of utmost importance that the preliminary inquiry should be conducted by a neutral and independent investigative agency," acting Chief Justice Nishita Mhatre, who penned the main order, observed during Friday's hearing.

"There is no other investigating agency besides the CBI which is independent and therefore I direct the CBi to conduct a preliminary inquiry without any delay," she said.

The acting Chief Justice also slammed the Mamata Banerjee government, accusing it of not acting independently during the investigation.

"It surprises me that the state in this case, rather than acting independently has supported the respondents with all the vehemence at its command," she said.

Mhatre added that though the respondents in the case, all holding high public offices, maintained that they haven't committed any cognizable offence of money laundering and questioned the authenticity of the video footage. the forensic test a two different laboratories show video footage is genuine.

"The contention of the respondents has all along been that they have not committed any cognizable offence under the prevention of money laundering or prevention of corruption act or under any provisions of the IPC. Considering the CFSL (Central Forensic Science Laboratory) reports from Hydrabad as well as Chandigarh, it is apparent that the video footage is not tampered and is genuine," she said.

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