Trimool's changing stands indicate acceptance of sting reality'

Kolkata, April 22: Claiming that the changing stand of the Trimool Congress was “an acceptance of the reality of the sting operation”, rada News CEO Mathew Samuel on Friday ridiculed the impunity of leaders caught in the alleged bribery scandal. Interacting with the media here, he rejected allegations of “political motives” behind the sting and threatened legal action against Trimool Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien for “infringing my right to privacy”. “First they (Trimool) said the tapes were doctored, then they said it was dotion and subsequently said the money went to the party for election purpose,” said Samuel about the sting in which several Trimool MPs, MLAs and former union ministers have been purportedly seen taking money.

“And now Didi (Mamata Banerjee) is saying she would have changed her party candidates (for the assembly polls). These changes show the Trimool has accepted (the reality),” said the jourlist, who was behind the sting operation.

Chief Minister Banerjee on April 17 had claimed that she would have given “a thought to changing the candidates” caught in the tapes, had the sting operation videotape been released before the announcement of her Trimool’s candidate list for the assembly polls. At least six of the over a dozen leaders “caught” in the sting are contesting the assembly polls. Rejecting the Trimool’s allegations of a “political conspiracy” and “use of black money for the sting”, Samuel ridiculed the leaders caught in the tape over their impunity in taking the bribes. “Did they have any idea from where I came? Forget about any conspiracy and look at the reality, they took money without even knowing who I was or from where I came from,” he said. Referring to O’Brien’s comments in Rajya Sabha where he claimed that Samuel made several calls to Dubai at the time when the sting operation was released, the jourlist said he will be initiating legal action. “I have written to the Rajya Sabha chairperson over this and awaiting a reply. I have also written to the TRAI and my mobile network company. I am waiting for the replies and I will file a police case for breach of my right to privacy,” he added.

Samuel also expressed is faith in the Calcutta High Court which is hearing three public interest litigations seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the matter. The footages along with the recording device are currently under the custody of the court.  (IANS)