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Narada News Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mathew Samuel on Thursday wrote to Kolkata Police asking it to reconsider his request to withdraw the summon against him in connection with its probe into the Narada sting operation, since the matter is sub-judice and under consideration of the Calcutta High Court.
"I have written to the Kolkata Police today asking them to reconsider my request to withdraw the summons issued the police asking me to appear before them for the investigation into the Narada sting operation because the matter is under consideration at the Calcutta High Court," Samuel told PTI.
On July 1, the Assistant Commissioner of Economic Offence Wing of Kolkata Police Detective Department had dismissed Samuel's request to withdraw the summon and issued a fresh one asking him to appear within seven days, which ended on Thursday.
In his mail to Kolkata Police, Mathew wrote, "In response to your notice mailed to me on July 1, 2016, it has been stated that a case has been registered at the New Market Police Station under IPC Sections 120B, 469, 505(1B), 171G, 500 (Punishment for defamation)."
"I have already responded to you that the matter is under consideration at the Calcutta High Court and I have submitted all documents, materials, original footage and all the equipment that I have used as per the direction of the High Court."
"Despite my response, I have again received a memo dated July 1, 2016 seeing my presence. In this regard I reiterate that the subject matter is pending for consideration of the Calcutta High Court," he said.
Stating that he was yet to receive a copy of the complaint in the case, Samuel requested the police to provide him the copy.
"You may also kindly note that apart from sending the above memo dated July 1, 2016, I have not yet been served with a copy of the complaint which is the basis for the case no 248. Hence I humbly request you to provide me a complete set of complaint," the mail read. "This is without prejudice to my stand taken to this matter, that the matter is being considered by the Calcutta High Court," he stated.
The Kolkata Police had issued the first summon to Samuel on June 23 in connection with its probe into the sting operation conducted by the channel.
Four days later, Samuel had requested Kolkata Police to withdraw its summon, saying the matter was sub-judice.
The controversial Narada sting operation, which surfaced ahead of the Assembly elections in the state, purportedly showed several Trinamool Congress leaders and an IPS officer accepting money for consideration.
An investigation into the Narada sting operation is presently on by the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, while a case is pending on the issue in the Calcutta High Court.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on June 17 ordered a probe by the police into the sting operation and asserted that her party had not taken "a single penny" from anyone in the Saradha chit fund scam and the Narada sting operation.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) under Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar comprising senior officers of the Detective Department, Cyber Crime Cell and Economic Offence Wing, was formed to conduct the probe.
Samuel has been booked under IPC sections 469 (forgery for purpose of harming reputation), 500 (defamation), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), 171(G) (false statement in connection with an election) and 120(B) (criminal conspiracy).
