Mamata Banerjee Vs CBI: Face-Off Continues, Supreme Court to Hear Plea Against West Bengal Govt & Kolkata Police Chief Today
The dramatic face-off between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continued on Monday.
New Delhi, February 4: The dramatic face-off between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over the probe agency's attempt to question the Kolkata Police chief Rajeev Kumar in connection with chit fund scam cases continued on Monday with the Trinamool Congress chief continuing her sit-in against the 'anarchic moves' of the Narendra Modi government to 'destroy democracy'.
Mamata Banerjee, flanked by her senior ministers and top TMC leaders, spent her day on a makeshift dais in the Dharamtala area, near the Metro Y Channel. She continued her routine work as the head of the state from the dharna site and also felicitated police officers at a separate event nearby. Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar was also present at the event. Banerjee also gave brief speeches, attacking the BJP-ruled centre.
"I am ready to give my life but not compromise. I did not take to the streets when you heckled TMC leaders. But I am angry when they tried to insult the chair of the Kolkata Police commissioner… He is leading the organisation,” Banerjee told a gathering," Banerjee told a gathering. Kumar, a 1989-batch IPS officer of West Bengal cadre, was heading a SIT on the Saradha and Rose Valley scams. CEC Seeks Explanation on Kolkata Police Chief's Absence in Meet; CM Says Sorry.
The CBI had accused Kumar of diluting the probe. The Bharatiya Janata Party, on the other hand, asked whether Banerjee wanted to save herself or the top cop. "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," union minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
The matter also reached to the Supreme Court where the CBI filed a petition against Kumar. While the apex court declined an urgent hearing, it said the Kolkata Police chief will regret if he thinks of destroying evidence. A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, will hear the matter today. The CBI has also filed a contempt plea against Kumar, West Bengal Chief Secretary and DGP.
Sources in the CBI told news agency ANI that the probe agency wrote to the local police on Sunday, informing about its “secret operation” and seeking adequate security for the same. According to the sources, a letter was written by CBI Inspector Prasenjit Mukherjee to “Officer-in-charge” of Shakespeare Sarani Police Station.
“In connection with a secret operation to be carried out at 2, No London Street, i.e. the official residence of Sh Rajeev Kumar, the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata Police, by a CBI team today, your assistance by way of providing adequate security at the same place is required,” read the letter, which the CBI says was sent to the local police. However, Kolkata Police denied the claim.
A political row erupted after Kolkata Police briefly detained CBI officials who had arrived to search the residence of Rajeev Kumar, who 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 above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 05, 2019 12:04 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).