Mamata Banerjee vs CBI: Supreme Court Directs Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar to Appear Before CBI
The CBI on Tuesday had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court alleging there are several incriminating material/correspondence that was collected during the investigation by the CBI against the senior police officials as well as senior politicians.
New Delhi, February 5: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with Saradha chit fund scam case. The CBI on Tuesday had filed an affidavit in the top Court alleging that several incriminating materials were collected by the CBI during the probe against the senior police officials as well as senior politicians. Following the top Court's directive, Kumar will appear before the CBI in Shillong, Meghalaya as a neutral place. The next day of hearing has been fixed to February 20. Mamata Banerjee Vs CBI: Dharna Enters Day 3, Chandrababu Naidu to Join Protest; Hearing in SC Today.
During the hearing today, the Supreme Court issued a notice to Commissioner Of Police Kolkata, DGP and West Bengal government on contempt plea. The bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna ordered Kumar to appear before CBI for questioning, adding that, no coercive steps including arrest would be taken.
While arguing on behalf of TMC government in West Bengal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi said its an attempt to harass and humiliate the top cop. He said there is no FIR against Kumar, adding that, Kumar had received three notices in 4 years. "It's an attempt to humiliate & score a point. What’s the great urgency? For 5 yrs there was no FIR. There is not a single FIR against Rajeev Kumar under 201 (Destruction of evidence) of the IPC", Singhvi said. Mamata Banerjee Vs CBI: Face-Off Continues, Supreme Court to Hear Plea Against West Bengal Govt & Kolkata Police Chief Today.
Mamata Banerjee Calls it 'a moral victory':
West Bengal Chief Minister termed the Supreme Court's order that no coercive steps would be taken against Rajeev Kumar as 'a moral victory'. "We have great respect for judiciary & all institutions. We are so grateful. We're so obliged", Banerjee said.
Attorney General KK Venugopal pleads before the Supreme Court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the alleged contemnors. Reports inform that late on Monday, an affidavit detailing the evidence against Kumar was prepared. The CBI on Monday approached the top Court, saying it 'apprehends' Rajeev Kumar is 'destroying electronic evidence'. The CBI urged the top Court for an urgent hearing and said Kumar should be directed to “immediately surrender/make himself available” for investigation.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 05, 2019 11:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).