In a press conference today, leaders of the Congress party accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of using demonetisation to make illicit money. The Congress leaders showed a video clip alleging that a BJP worker in Gujarat offered to convert demonetised currency into new notes at a commission of 40 per cent.

Congress leader Kapil Sibal said the demonetised money was exchanged after December 31. “This can’t happen without the help of banks, police, senior officials,” he said. He also accused the BJP of “treason” and looting people. Sibal said he would play a video clip published by a website, Tricolour News Network, to substantiate his allegations.

The video screened at the presser was first published by TNN 16 hours ago, under the headline: Tsunami of Stings Modi BJP Unmasked Part 1. The website had released a promo of this sting nearly two weeks ago.

In the video, a masked voice can be heard saying that the video has been prepared by seven Indian journalists, some of whom the audience might have seen on television on a daily basis. The voice claims that the reason for releasing the video through such means is the paabandi (restrictions) imposed on them by their respective corporate owners. The voice also claims that those involved in the video’s production have no affiliations to any political parties. Furthermore, the video claims that they met a senior BJP functionary through a Gujarat-based businessman on a tip-off from their investigative reporters. The senior BJP functionary, the video alleges, would convert about Rs 100 crore in demonetised notes at an exchange rate of 40 per cent. The video clip also shows the sting carried out on the alleged BJP functionary.

Sibal stated that video was available on TNN and its authenticity must be ascertained by the viewers. Meanwhile, TNN has stated that it could not be held responsible for the content shown in the 30-minute video.

As things stand now, it is unclear who carried out the sting and whether it is authentic. TNN’s Facebook page has about 800 likes and followers. The Facebook page of the website shows a UK-based Diana Biciin as its director of operations. A search on domain registration website Whois shows that TNN.world, the website where the sting was first published, was created earlier this year on January 31. The registrant is based out of London.

Other leaders present at the March 26 presser included Loktantrik Janata Dal’s Sharad Yadav, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s Hemant Soren, Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Manoj Jha and Congress’ Ahmed Patel and Mallikarjun Kharge.

The presser was largely ignored and didn’t create much buzz. Some of the media organisations covering the presser include ANI, ABP News, Quint, Dainik Jagran, Tiranga and Times Now. 

Indian Express telephoned the number mentioned on Tricolour’s Facebook page. The newspaper reports: “a “Catherine” responded: ‘We had sent a team from Canada to carry out the (demonetisation) sting operations between January and April 2017.’ Asked who had carried out the sting, Catherine replied: ‘I feel you are acting as your Prime Minister’s intelligence agency operative.'”

Indian Express also said the company’s address is that of an agency called Companies Made Simple Group which “offers business products and services to start up companies and small businesses”. According to public records, the newspaper said, “Tricolour News Network was incorporated as a company in London on November 28, 2018; the domain name (tnn.world) was registered on January 31, 2019”.