Samuel seeks withdrawal of look-out notice

Narada News CEO Mathew Samuel appealed for the withdrawal of the ‘look-out notice’ against him before Calcutta High Court on Tuesday. The look-out notice was issued against him by the Kolkata Police after he chose to answer the questions via e-mail, but was not physically present at Lalbazar.

“I did not escape like Vijay Mallya. I answered every query via e-mail which was asked by the Kolkata police. Why have they issued a look-out notice against me? I have appealed before the court to withdraw the look-out notice against me,” said Samuel.

“I was coming from the United States after covering election there. The immigration department caught me there. Later, they released me. I cannot travel due to this look-out notice,” he further added.

The Narada Sting operation claimed to expose the important minister and leaders of the state to take bribe. But those video footages were strongly challenged by the Trinamool Congress. Despite the immense negative campaign over the Narada issues, Trinamool Congress got a landslide victory in the last Assembly election.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ordered to set up a special investigating team (SIT) to unearth the matter. Commissioner of Kolkata Police, Rajeev Kumar was given the charge to lead SIT.

SIT, however, called up Samuel several times to be present at Lalbazar. But dodging the police’s call, he preferred to answer the question via e-mail. The Kolkata police issued a arrest warrant.

Later, the Kolkata Police issued a look-out notice by which he was being caught at Delhi airport in September. The immigration department contacted Kolkata police. Kolkata police later asked the immigration department to release him.

Samuel’s lawyer Arunabha Ghosh said that earlier, there were three cases filed at Calcutta High Court seeking the intervention of CBI. But the state government has set up SIT to investigate the case. How can these two go on together? 

It should be recalled that the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ordered a probe into the Narada sting operation and police registered an FIR against Narada News CEO Mathew Samuel on a complaint filed by city Mayor and Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sovan Chattopadhyay’s wife.