SC Gives 7 Days To WB’s Top Cop Rajeev Kumar To Seek Protection From Arrest By CBI
The Supreme Court of India on Thursday granted seven days to former Police Commissioner of Kolkata Rajeev Kumar seven days to approach a court for seeking protection from arrest by the CBI for allegedly destroying evidence related to the Saradha chit fund scam in West Bengal. He was appointed head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to probe the biggest ever financial corruption in the eastern state which defrauded over two million people who were assured of attractive returns on their investments. He cannot be taken into CBI custody till his case for protection is disposed of .However, integration by CBI will continue, as per the SC order. The SC has made it clear that its February order giving him protection will continue for seven days and told the Central Bureau of Investigation to “act in accordance with the law”. The CBI had prayed to the Supreme Court seeking his custodial interrogation there was preliminary evidence of him allegedly trying to destroy or tamper with evidence and “shield high and mighty” in the case.”We have withdrawn the protection given to Rajeev Kumar vide order dated February 5,” the bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, said while pronouncing the order.The probe agency had said it needs to take Mr Kumar into custody to question him about the finer details of the case. Rajeev Kumar’s lawyer had told the Supreme Court that the agency wanted his custodial interrogation “just to humiliate” him and the CBI should not be allowed to abuse the process of law.On February 3, a team of CBI officers was stopped from entering Mr Kumar’s home in Kolkata when they had gone to question him in connection with the chit fund scam cases. The move had prompted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to go on a sit-in in the heart of the city against what she called was an “the attack on constitutional norms”.Over a week later, acting on the Supreme Court’s order, the CBI questioned Mr Kumar for five days in Shillong. The top court had also ordered that no coercive action can be taken against Rajeev Kumar and he cannot be arrested. Kumar stated to be a blue eyed boy of the ruling TMC supremo was relieved of his assignment as Additional Director General of CID, West Bengal, by the Election Commission of India following violent incidents during Road Show by BJP President Amit Shah in Kolkata. He was posted in the Union Ministry for Home Affairs He reported for duty at the Home Ministry on Thursday. Incidentally, as per official estimates Saradha Chit had mobilized about Rs. 1,200 crore through chit funds. However some knowledgeable people say the amount is closer to Rs. 4,000 crore. The company collapsed in April 2013 about two years later TMC came to power in West Bengal. Its founder Chairman Sudipta Sen and Executive Director Debjani Mukherjee were nabbed in Jammu and Kashmir and they are remain imprisoned as the CBI investigating the case .