The Lok Sabha's ethics committee on Thursday sought an explanation from five Trinamool Congress MPs who were allegedly caught on video accepting bribes in a so-called sting operation by a news website. The panel had earlier asked Narada News about the source of the video and whether it stood by the sting operation, reported PTI.

In March, weeks before the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, Narada News released videos that purportedly showed several TMC leaders accepting cash in return for promising to grant favours to a fictitious company.

On Monday, the Calcutta High Court had set up a three-member committee to keep evidence from sting operation by Narada News “in safe custody”. The court had asked the news website to approach the panel and hand over the videos that purportedly show Trinamool Congress leaders accepting bribes.