Narada Sting Case | Will appear only if CBI pays for travel: Mathew

“I have already appeared before CBI’s Kolkata office and the agency’s headquarters in Delhi over 10 to 12 times in the case, and they have not compensated me on any occasion. Additionally, during the earlier cases of CBI and Tehelka, I have appeared before the CBI and the CBI trial court more than 500 times. It’s on record that the CBI has provided me a total of Rs 23,000 as conveyance from 2007 to 2022. I have filed applications with CBI officials and the trial court regarding this matter, but the agency has continually opposed them,” he stated.

Samuel also said that he cannot afford to spend an “extended period of time” travelling via train as he is a journalist “…I humbly submit that the CBI must cover my airfare and accommodation expenses in Kolkata, as a train journey would take three days one way and another three to return. As a journalist, I cannot afford to spend such an extended period travelling by train,” said Samuel. The CBI is yet to respond to Samuel’s claims.

The Narada sting tapes were released just ahead of the 2016 Assembly elections in West Bengal and it showed 12 TMC ministers and leaders accepting bribes in return of favours. It was carried out by Samuel. The CBI had initiated a probe into the case and later filed a case against 12 TMC leaders and others.