March 26: Dum Dum MP Saugata Roy told a Trinamul gathering last night he was "saddened and ashamed" at getting embroiled in the Narada sting, his remarks potentially embarrassing for a party that seems intent on brazening it out.

"Narada sting operation hoyechhe. Amaar khub dukkho, aapnader kaachhe bolte ami lojjito, amaar naam ta or modhye joriyechhe (I'm saddened and ashamed that my name got entangled in the Narada sting operation)," Roy told a party workers' meeting in Khardah, North 24-Parganas.

"A court case is on; whatever the verdict is, we'll all accept it. If you are angry with Saugata Roy, don't give your votes the next time."

Roy, however, followed this up by mouthing the charge of "conspiracy" like his party chief Mamata Banerjee, who has resisted all calls for a probe and is not known to have sought explanations from the accused.

"Before every election, a sting operation or a scam is aired against Trinamul," he said, citing the Tehelka controversy before the 2001 election into which "Mamata's name was dragged".

He cited how Mamata quit the railway ministry demanding defence minister George Fernandes's resignation - a stand that contrasts with her reaction to Narada.

Roy highlighted how the Saradha scandal broke "before the 2014 election" (actually a year earlier).

Contacted by The Telegraph, Roy acknowledged his Khardah comments but did not explain why he felt "ashamed" or why he had spoken out. "It's up to the public to take a decision on my statement. I won't tell the media why I said it."

Party sources said Mamata had earlier warned Roy to check his tendency to speak contrary to the party line.

Yesterday, MP Dinesh Trivedi had publicly disapproved of Mamata's handling of the Narada controversy, saying that if he were head of the party, he would have asked the accused to "sit at home" till they "come out clean" in a probe.

Some 15 Trinamul politicians - including MPs, state ministers and the Calcutta mayor - have been accused of accepting cash from agents of a fictitious firm. Of them, five are contesting the Assembly polls.

Apart from echoing Mamata's charge of "conspiracy", Trinamul representatives have spoken in multiple voices, some calling the footage "adulterated" and others tacitly acknowledging receipt of the cash by calling it "donations".

A Trinamul senior from North 24-Parganas said Roy's remarks could hurt the party. Some believe that Roy was trying to salvage his image.

"He is known as a well-read person and a good speaker. By saying he is ashamed he has tried to clear his position among supporters," a Trinamul MP said.