CBI vs Mamata: BJP Asks Why West Bengal CM is Protecting Kolkata Police Chief Rajeev Kumar, Takes Dig at Rahul Gandhi
Ravi Shankar Prasad accused the TMC government of delaying investigation in chit fund scam cases.
New Delhi, February 4: Questioning West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's sit-in protest over the CBI's attempt to question the Kolkata Police chief Rajeev Kumar in connection with chit fund scam cases, union minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday asked whether she wanted to save herself or the top cop. Ravi Shankar Prasad accused the TMC government of delaying investigation in chit fund scam cases.
"Kolkata Police commissioner was summoned thrice by the CBI but failed to respond positively. It implies Rajeev Kumar knows about the scams. I would like to ask Mamata Banerjee what's the compulsion behind supporting a Police Commissioner," Prasad said at a press conference. "Mamata Banerjee was silent when TMC's leaders were arrested, but why is she going on strike against Police Commissioner's inquiry," he added. CEC Seeks Explanation on Kolkata Police Chief's Absence in Meet; CM Says Sorry.
Taking a dig at Congress president Rahul Gandhi over his support to Banerjee, Prasad said the Congress leader in the past had spoken against Saradha and ponzi scams in West Bengal. Meanwhile, Banerjee, surrounded by her ministers and top party leaders, continued her overnight sit-in protest against the CBI over its attempt to question Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar in connection with a Ponzi scheme case.
A political row erupted after Kolkata Police briefly detained CBI officials who had arrived to search the residence of Rajeev Kumar, who according to the probe agency was absconding fearing arrest in chit fund scam cases. Rajeev Kumar, a 1989 batch IPS officer, went slow or diluted the SIT probe in multi-crore Saradha and Rose Valley Ponzi scams, the CBI said on Saturday. The police commissioner is known to be close to Banerjee.
The Rose Valley scam is worth over Rs 15,000 crore and Saradha scam is about Rs 2500 crore. The Supreme Court had handed over the probe to the CBI in 2014. Meanwhile, the apex court on Monday declined an urgent hearing on a CBI plea against Kumar and said it will hear the matter tomorrow.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 04, 2019 04:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).