The CBI-Kolkata Police stand-off that reached the Supreme Court has taken an interesting turn on Tuesday. The court directed the Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar to make himself available for the investigation by CBI in relation to the Saradha chit fund scam.
The court said that Kumar cannot be arrested and directed that the meeting between him and the CBI take place at a neutral place—Shillong, Meghalaya. The court also directed the commissioner to faithfully cooperate with the probe.
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The CBI had approached the Supreme Court stating that the Kolkata Police commissioner was a potential accused in the Saradha Chit Fund scam. CBI claimed that the local police department could be destroying crucial evidence.
The CBI, according to ANI, filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court alleging that there are several incriminating evidence that was collected during the investigation by the CBI against the senior police officials as well as senior politicians.
The affidavit claims that investigation was carried out by the SIT and several crucial evidence such as laptops, mobile phones were handed over to the main accused in Saradha scam case by the investigating officer of West Bengal police working under direct supervision of Commissioner Kumar. Despite regular monitoring of the case by the High Court, crucial evidence was returned to the main accused. This was a clear indication of the connivance of the SIT and the larger conspiracy in the matter where local authorities obstructed the probe.
Attorney General K.K.Venugopal who opened the argument on behalf of CBI claimed that evidence from the case was destroyed. He further alleged that Kolkata Police had provided doctored call data records regarding the case. Venugopal said that Kumar was heading SIT set up by the West Bengal government to probe the chit fund scam.
After Venugopal pleaded before the Supreme Court to initiate contempt of court proceeding against contemnors, the court issued notice to Kumar, DGP and the West Bengal government.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi who is appearing for the West Bengal government in the case, observed that it was an attempt to "humiliate and score points". "What’s the great urgency? For five years there was no FIR. There is not a single FIR against Rajeev Kumar under 201 (Destruction of evidence) of the IPC?" he said.
Meanwhile, on the petition filed by Rajeev Kumar in Kolkata High Court seeking interim relief, the court postponed the case to Thursday as the matter between the police and CBI is sub judice in the apex court.
The Supreme Court also directed the West Bengal chief secretary, the director general of police (DGP) and the Kolkata Police commissioner to file replies on the contempt pleas filed against them by the CBI on or before February 18.
The bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjeev Khanna said on consideration of replies of the chief secretary, the DGP and the Kolkata police commissioner, the court might prefer the personal appearance of these three authorities on February 20.
The bench said the apex court's secretary general will inform them on February 19 whether they are required to be present before it on February 20.
