No BJP hand in Narada sting probe: Ahluwalia

Kolkata, March 25 (IANS) Rubbishing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's allegations, senior BJP leader S.S. Ahluwalia on Saturday claimed his party has no hand in the ongoing Narada sting investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

"An order was given by the (Calcutta) High Court. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee went to the Supreme Court but it did not stay the order for investigation. Where is the BJP in all this? The BJP is in no way connected with the matter," the Bharatiya Janata Party National Vice President said on the sidelines of a medical conference here.

After the High Court ordered for the CBI investigation in the Narada sting operation case on March 17, Banerjee called the order "unfortunate" and attacked the BJP for what she said was the "planned" controversy.

"It was planned. It was planted. The sting was published from the BJP office at the time of assembly elections. It is in public domain as to what BJP state President said... that after the Uttar Pradesh elections, a CBI probe will be ordered. I am really shocked. How did the BJP leader know in advance what the court is going to order?" the Trinamool supremo had said.

Ahluwalia, the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare, also said: If she is claiming everything about the case is false and a set-up, why did the Kolkata Police register a case against (TMC leader) K.D. Singh?" he asked.

A suo motu case was started by the Kolkata Police against the Alchemist Group's chit fund arm and its owners, including company head K.D. Singh, for alleged cheating on the basis of a complaint lodged by 69 investors on March 16 at the city's Bowbazar police station.

Incidentally, Narada News chief Mathew Samuel, who conducted the sting operation that allegedly showed Trinamool Congress leaders accepting bribes, claimed the sting was sponsored by K.D. Singh.