12 lawmakers of Indian state booked for money laundering

Indian authorities have booked 12 lawmakers of the eastern state of West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress Party in a money laundering case.

The Enforcement Directorate, which investigates financial crimes, has registered the case against the 12 politicians, including some ministers, who are accused of accepting cash as bribes allegedly in a sting operation which was conducted by a local news website, officials said Friday.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered the report after the country's Supreme Court said earlier this month that the CBI will investigate the charges against the Trinamool Congress leaders in the wake of a plea by party chief and state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to stop the probe.

The sting showed people resembling Trinamool Congress Ministers and leaders accepting cash from the website, Narada News, journalists who posed as representatives of a fictitious company seeking favors from the government.

The tapes were released to news organisations before the 2016 assembly elections in West Bengal, which Banerjee swept, winning a second term as Chief Minister.

Banerjee has said the footage is doctored and has alleged a political conspiracy. She has also accused the country's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using central agencies to "intimidate" her party as it sets its eyes on expanding its influence in West Bengal.

BJP chief Amit Shah, who toured the state earlierthis week, has rejected Banerjee's allegation, accusing her of harbouring a "BJP phobia."

"There is no conspiracy. They were seen on TV taking money. The entire world can see it," he added. Endit