CBI ready to lodge FIR, awaits nod from Delhi

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is all set to lodge an FIR to probe the Narada sting operation after their preliminary investigation following the Calcutta high court's order and is awaiting instructions from its headquarters in Delhi.

Sources said there were many hidden facts about the sting operation including the source of money that was used in it besides looking into the purpose of giving the respective amounts to the political leaders who featured in the footages of the sting operation.

The CBI officers in Kolkata have prepared a report on the preliminary investigation and have sent the same to the CBI's law section in Delhi. The CBI officers here are waiting for the nod from the national Capital to file an FIR in order to initiate a probe into the sting operation.

It may be mentioned that the Calcutta high court had directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary investigation within 72 hours from Friday to assess whether there was a need to file an FIR to probe the case or not.

The CBI officers have accordingly collected all equipment used in the sting operation and have also taken the video footages in their custody. The investigating officers had questioned the three petitioners on Sunday to know the reason behind filing the Public Interest Litigations in this connection. The audios have also been transmitted.

Sources said after going through the unedited video footages, the investigating officers have come across many such aspects for which they need to verify several facts from those who had undertaken the sting operation. However, the purposes of both giving and taking the money as shown in the video footages were not clear. Thus, the CBI officers were in favour of initiating a probe in this connection.

With the completion of 72 hours of time given by the High Court to complete the preliminary probe, the CBI would lodge an FIR on Tuesday if they get the clearance following instructions from Delhi.

This comes at a time when counsels of the Trinamool Congress and the state government will give a legal fight in Supreme Court against the High Court's order of handing over the probe to the CBI.