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SC Orders Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar To Appear Before CBI, No Arrest To Be Made, And Issued Notice In Contempt Petition To Three Authorities.
In the wake of recent dramatic events of the raid conducted by CBI officials at the Kolkata police commissioner’s Rajeev Kumar residence and the subsequent dharna staged by Mamta Banerjee, the matter was moved to Supreme Court.
The Apex court today passed an order directing Rajeev Kumar to appear before CBI in relation to the Saradha chit fund scam case. In 2014, the apex court had handed over the investigation into this scam to the CBI as the scam involved inter-state ramifications, serious regulatory failures, possible money laundering, and alleged involvement of top politicians of the state.
CBI also made arrest of Trinamool MP Kunal Ghosh and the owner of Saradha group, Sudipta Sen, who shared cordial relations with several TMC leaders.
The Apex court also directed CBI not to make any arrest and only to interrogate the Police commissioner at a neutral ground, Shillong.
The Bench presided over by the CJI also issued notice in the petition filed by Attorney General K K Venugopal for initiating contempt proceedings against West Bengal government Chief Secretary, DGP, and Kolkata Police Commissioner. They have until February 18 to file their replies.
Court further made it clear that it may require personal presence of the said officers on Feb 20, 2019, if need be.
Dr A M Singhvi, appearing for the State of West Bengal said that the entire incident was just to humiliate and harass the state government and that the CBI should have approached that Calcutta High court first.
On the other hand, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that police officials are only trying to stall the CBI investigations and also apprised the court of his apprehension that police was trying to destroy evidence.
Commenting on this, the CJI assured Mr. Mehta that if that it is found out that evidence tampering is being done then SC will come down so heavily on those involved that they will regret it.
