Kolkata, February 5: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's sit-in protest in Kolkata against CBI’s attempt to grill Kolkata Police chief Rajeev Kumar in chit fund scam cases entered the third day on Monday. The Chief Minister said she would continue her dharna till Friday in view of the upcoming board exams in the state. "This demonstration will continue till February 8. Because the board examinations will be starting soon and we will not be playing the loudspeakers,” Banerjee said. CEC Seeks Explanation on Kolkata Police Chief's Absence in Meet; CM Says Sorry.

Opposition parties also extended full support to Banerjee after the mega mega-showdown between the state police and officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). On Tuesday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu extended his support to Banerjee. "We're all together to save this country and protect democracy. There's attack on democratic institutions. A month before elections, they went to Commissioner of Police&harassed him. It's totally undemocratic", he said.

Banerjee is observing the protest since February 3 at the Metro Channel in Esplanade area in the heart of the city, the same spot she had sat on a 26-day fast in 2006 against the acquisition of farmland at Singur for the Tata Motors factory. On Monday, she had said she would continue her “satyagraha” till the country and its Constitution are “saved”.

The high-voltage drama in Kolkata began on Sunday when a CBI team had gone to Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar’s residence to question him in connection with multi-crore chit fund scams. As CBI officials were denied permission to get into Kumar's house, a scuffle broke out between CBI officials and Kolkata Police after which the officials were bundled into jeeps and whisked to a police station.

In the wake of the instability in Kolkata, the matter was taken to the Supreme Court on Monday where the CBI filed a petition against Rajeev Kumar and urged for an urgent hearing into the matter. While the apex court declined an urgent hearing and said it would hear the matter on Tuesday. In its order, the top Court said that if Kolkata Police chief will face strict action if he thinks of destroying evidence.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 05, 2019 09:11 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).