Trinamool Congress leaders were purportedly shown accepting money in exchange for promise of favours in the sting video. (File photo)
The Calcutta High Court today said that it would pass an order on Monday as to whom Narada News web portal chief Mathew Samuel would hand over his sting video tapes which purportedly show ruling Trinamool Congress leaders taking money from a fictitious company.
A division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice Arijit Banerjee reserved its order on the issue today and said it would pass the order on Monday.
Mr Samuel, whose Narada News portal carried out a sting operation against some Trinamool Congress leaders, had in an affidavit before the high court stated that for reasons pertaining to his own security, he would like to submit footage of the 'sting operation' to any central agency.
Mr Samuel claimed in his affidavit that the 'sting operation' was carried out by him and that he was ready to face any consequence if it was found that the footage was not genuine.
Appearing for the Trinamool leaders, party lawmaker and counsel Kalyan Banerjee objected to Mr Samuel's plea, submitting before the court that every central agency was controlled by the ruling party at the Centre and as such the tapes should be handed over only to the court.
He also stated that if Mr Samuel was concerned about his security to come and hand over the tapes before the high court as he was directed earlier, he may be asked to hand over the same to the Registrar of the Supreme Court or of the Delhi High Court.
The division bench also directed Mr Samuel to provide information regarding the sting operation as directed in its order of March 22 through an affidavit by April 12.
The matter would be heard again on April 15. The division bench noted that Mr Samuel had not placed before the court the device used to record the sting footage which show Trinamool leaders allegedly accepting money.
It also noted that the company which Mr Samuel said ran the Narada News was formed in January, 2016, while the tapes were allegedly made a few years back.
The bench also noted that Samuel had not disclosed the dates of recording as directed in the March 22 order.
The Chief Justice observed that the court's priority was to ensure preservence of public confidence in the administration while stating that the position of the leaders alleged to have been caught on the sting tapes was also in its mind.
Mr Samuel had in his affidavit stated that Narada News is a Delhi-based company with four directors, including him, and that it had proper credentials.
Three Public Interest Litigations were filed seeking action against Trinamool Congress leaders who were purportedly shown accepting money in exchange for promise of favours in the sting video.
The bench had directed Mr Samuel to provide all details including video footage, identity of those involved in the sting, list of shareholders of the company and its directors.