CBI questions Trinamul MLA

Kolkata: Trinamul Congress MLA and deputy mayor Iqbal Ahmed was interrogated for nearly seven hours by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at their office in Nizam Palace in connection with the Narada sting video. Mr Ahmed, along with several other Trinamul Congress leaders including ministers were allegedly seen taking wads of notes in the video.

Accompanied by his lawyer, Mr Ahmed turned up at the CBI office at 11 am in the morning and left at around 6 pm. He was the first among the accused to be summoned for grilling by the central investigating agency. “We have video-recorded his statements and may call him for questioning again,” a senior CBI official said.

Narada news editor Mathew Samuel had claimed that it was Mr Ahmed who introduced him to the senior TMC leaders who he paid money in the name of a fictituous company. He had further said that Mr Ahmed had taken money from him for introducing him to the leaders.

The Khanakul MLA had failed to appear before the CBI last Saturday and had sought a week’s time citing ill health.

He was asked again to appear before the investigating officers on Thursday.