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A CBI sting for Mamata

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West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and TMC leader Mukul Roy, UNI

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With the Calcutta High Court ordering a probe by the same agency into the Narada sting, is another fight brewing between Modi and the West Bengal CM? 

By Sujit Bhar

With the BJP sweeping polls in Uttar Pradesh and then cleverly annexing Goa and Manipur as well – Uttarakhand was also a clear win for BJP – the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of West Bengal and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were in a state of flux and apparent shock. Mamata saw the dream of a “secular opposition” collapse like a pack of cards and the defection to the BJP of its only MLA in Manipur did not help matters.

Now, suddenly, a scandal from the past has resurfaced, hitting the party hard. The Calcutta High Court has ordered a CBI probe into a sting operation carried out last year by a private online news portal (Narada News), against 14 TMC members, MPs, ministers and even a senior police official close to the party head honchos.

On March 17, the court directed the CBI to investigate the 2016 sting operation. The instruction of a three-day time limit to the CBI for a preliminary report was given by a bench of Chief Justice Nishita Mhatre and Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty. The bench also gave the police 24 hours (which ends on March 18) to hand over all documents pertaining to the case to the CBI.

The court has been moved by three PILs filed before it on this issue last year, seeking an independent inquiry into the overall sting operation.

Mamata has reacted with usual panache, saying that she was ready to go to the Supreme Court in this issue, if needs be. She has been reported as saying: “Everyone knows that the sting was published from the BJP office. We are going to the higher court against the Calcutta High Court order.”

Minister Madan Mitra who was jailed for his hand in the Saradha chit fund scam is also an accused

Minister Madan Mitra who was jailed for his hand in the Saradha chit fund scam is also an accused

The sting operation had little effect on the elections, with Mamata coming back to power with an even bigger mandate. One minister was jailed thereafter (Madan Mitra), having been released on bail only recently, but he was arrested because of his association with the Saradha chit fund scam. Also in jail is senior TMC leader Mukul Roy, also associated with the Saradha scam. The Narada sting has yet to affect any TMC leader or operative. However, with the CBI taking over the investigation, things could turn out very different for Mamata.

Mamata has always maintained that the CBI is under the control of the central government, and her recent spat with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left the central leadership angry. If the centre does want to influence the investigation, then manipulating the CBI would be easy. That will leave the TMC with no backdoor exit.

If the sting was indeed made to destabilise the state government before the elections, its repercussions now might have a larger effect on the party and its leadership, especially on Mamata, who has been known to be the only “untainted” leader.

This court order could open doors to further embarrassment for the party.

THE STING

Midway through 2016, and just before the assembly elections in West Bengal, TMC and Mamata were shocked to find the video of a sting operation in the media. Done by Narada News, a private online channel owned and operated by “journalist” Mathew Samuel, a number of videos were circulated to leading media houses.

The video showed 14 members of TMC, including top MPs, ministers, activists and even a senior police officer accepting wads of currency notes totalling nearly Rs 70 lakhs with the promise of future favours. Offering the “bribes” was Samuel, pretending to be a businessman from Chennai who wanted to apparently speed up operations when his fake company starts operations in the state.

A video grab of the sting

A video grab of the sting

The timing of the release of the video – just before elections – was a critical angle, because Samuel had later admitted that the videos with a hidden camera were shot quite some time back. Parties in opposition in West Bengal, including the Congress, the CPI (M) and the BJP, had demanded a CBI probe into the matter and the Calcutta High Court had taken the matter into consideration, following the three PILs filed before it.

An appeal from the TMC to hold onto the matter till elections were over was rejected by the High Court bench of the then Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice Arijit Banerjee and it directed Narada News to submit the video footage of its sting.

Caught on video taking “bribes” were TMC MPs Saugata Roy, Suvendu Adhikari, Sultan Ahmed, Aparupa Poddar, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Prasun Banerjee, state ministers Subrata Mukherjee, Firhad Hakim, Madan Mitra, Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, MLA Iqbal Ahmed and senior IPS officer SMH Mirza. 

ALSO READ: Stinging the Trinamool Congress [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Security tightened across Delhi metro stations after bomb threat emails

Delhi is on high alert after bomb threat emails targeted metro stations, the Red Fort and the Assembly. Authorities confirmed the threats were hoaxes but tightened security as a precaution.

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Delhi Metro

Security has been intensified across all metro stations and major installations in the national capital after a series of bomb threat emails were received on Monday. Authorities later confirmed that the threats were hoaxes following detailed inspections by security agencies.

According to officials, several key institutions — including the Delhi Secretariat, Delhi Assembly, the Red Fort and two schools — received threatening emails earlier in the day. Extensive searches were carried out at all the locations mentioned in the messages, but nothing suspicious was found.

A senior police officer said cyber teams are working to trace the origin of the emails. Preliminary findings suggest that the senders may have used Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in an attempt to conceal their identities and mislead investigators. Officials expressed confidence that those responsible would be identified.

Metro stations under heightened surveillance

Following specific references to metro services in the emails, security arrangements were strengthened across the entire network of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Additional personnel have been deployed at stations, and anti-sabotage checks are being conducted.

Police said random frisking of passengers and intensified CCTV surveillance are being carried out as part of precautionary measures. Bomb disposal squads and dog squads were stationed at sensitive sites, including the Red Fort, Delhi Secretariat and the Assembly complex.

The threatening emails reportedly included the slogan “Delhi banega Khalistan” and warned of explosions at an Army school, the Assembly and the Red Fort at specific times during the day. Officials stated that all mentioned locations were thoroughly checked and declared safe.

Authorities also coordinated with counterparts in neighbouring states to enhance security at metro stations falling under their jurisdictions.

While no explosives were found, officials said the tightened security arrangements will remain in place as a precaution. Cyber teams continue efforts to trace the IP addresses and identify those behind the threat emails.

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JNU protest turns violent as Left and Right student groups trade charges

A late-night protest at JNU turned violent as Left and ABVP student groups accused each other of stone-throwing and attacks near the East Gate.

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JNU Protest

Tension gripped the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University in the early hours of Monday after a protest march allegedly spiralled into violence, with rival student groups accusing each other of triggering the unrest.

Students claimed that the incident occurred around 1.30 am when a confrontation broke out during a march called by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union. The protest, named “Samta Juloos”, was headed towards the East Gate and was organised to demand the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit and the withdrawal of a rustication order.

According to protesters, several students were injured after alleged stone-throwing during the clash. They alleged that the university administration did not intervene during the march and instead permitted members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad to confront demonstrators.

However, the ABVP denied the allegations and countered that Left-affiliated organisations instigated the confrontation and were spreading misinformation about the events.

Left-backed groups, including the All India Students’ Association, claimed that ABVP activists targeted the JNUSU encampment and hurled stones at “unarmed students”, leading to multiple injuries.

Videos shared by students on social media reportedly showed chaotic scenes near the protest site, with members of rival groups engaged in heated exchanges and physical scuffles.

University authorities did not immediately respond to queries regarding the incident. Students said the situation on campus remained tense following the overnight clashes.

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World praised India’s AI potential at AI Impact Summit, says PM Modi

PM Modi said the world praised India’s AI potential at the AI Impact Summit 2026, where 89 countries endorsed the New Delhi Declaration on artificial intelligence.

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pm modi speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the world wholeheartedly praised India’s potential during the recently concluded AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, highlighting the growing global confidence in the country’s young technology talent.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the summit demonstrated how the mindset of India’s youth in the field of technology would serve humanity at large. He described the event as historic and underlined the positive global response to India’s AI capabilities.

The AI Impact Summit 2026, organised in New Delhi last week, concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact. The declaration has been endorsed by 89 countries and international organisations, signalling broad global agreement on promoting artificial intelligence for economic growth and social welfare.

Broad global participation

The summit saw the participation of several prominent world leaders and top technology executives. Among those present were UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Swiss President Guy Parmelin.

Other leaders attending the summit included Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Croatia Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic, Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay, Estonia President Alar Karis, and Finland Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

Chief executives and senior leaders from major global technology firms were also part of the gathering.

Focus on inclusive AI growth

Held under the theme ‘Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay’ (welfare for all, happiness of all), the summit aimed to position India as a global leader in artificial intelligence while ensuring that AI development remains inclusive and sustainable.

The event brought together more than 500 international AI leaders. This included around 100 CEOs and founders, 150 academicians and researchers, and 400 CTOs, vice presidents and philanthropists. Additionally, over 100 government representatives and nearly 60 ministers and vice ministers participated in discussions.

The New Delhi Declaration seeks to strengthen international cooperation and ensure that AI technologies contribute to economic progress, social good and environmental protection.

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