SC backs CBI's Narada probe; Mamata happy

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to interfere with the Calcutta High Court order that asked the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the Narada sting operation.

Reacting to the development, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee termed the Supreme Court ruling on the CBI probe into the Narada sting operation as a "positive" one. "Positive. Welcome," the Trinamool Congress supremo told reporters when asked to comment on the apex court ruling.

In the video footage, a number of senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders were seen accepting money on the promise of granting favours.

The bench of Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, Justice D Y. Chandrachud and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul found no infirmity with the high court order directing inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). However, the court said that the "inferences and conclusions" recorded by the high court in its order would not weigh with the investigating agency. The top court also relaxed the timeline given by the high court, saying the CBI would complete the inquiry within one month from the date when high court had passed the order.

Besides, the bench said that the TMC leaders who approached the apex court would have "ample opportunities" to assail the findings of the inquiry by the CBI.