Shillong (Meghalaya): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has questioned Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar in connection with Saradha chit fund scam for the third day on Monday. Former Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh was also questioned for two days in connection with the case. The CBI grilled Kumar and Ghosh for nearly 12 hours on Sunday in connection with the Rose Valley and Saradha chit fund scams.
Ghosh was arrested on November 23, 2013, and sent to custody by the CBI on September 4, 2014, after it took over the investigation on the orders of the Supreme Court. In 2016, the Calcutta High Court had granted interim bail to Ghosh against a bail bond of Rs 2,00,000. The Kolkata Police chief, who has been accused of withholding some documents related to Saradha and Rose Valley chit fund cases, was questioned by the CBI in Shillong on Saturday as well.
On February 5, the Supreme Court had directed Kumar to appear before the central investigative agency in connection with the matter. It had also said that no coercive step should be taken against Kumar. The top court's directive had come against the backdrop of a ‘dharna’ organised by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata earlier this month in protest against the CBI’s attempt to arrest the top cop.
Kumar has been serving as Kolkata’s Police Commissioner since January 2016. He is said to have not responded to earlier summons from the CBI in connection with the probe into the Rose Valley and Saradha ponzi scams. The CBI had claimed in the apex court that Kumar allegedly tampered crucial evidence in the Rose Valley and Saradha chit fund scam. In line with the order, the apex court had asked him to ‘cooperate’ with the officers of the CBI.
IPS officers face action
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has reportedly told the West Bengal government to take stern action against IPS officers who had participated in a dharna staged by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee earlier last week. It has reportedly also initiated a number of measures, including withdrawing medals, against them. It is reported that the West Bengal government has been told to act as per All India Services (Conduct) Rules and take action against serving officers who participated in the dharna. The MHA may also remove names of delinquent officers from the empanelled list and bar them for a certain period from serving in the central government.
A number of IPS officers were reportedly present at Mamata's 'Save India' dharna in Kolkata to protest against CBI officials visiting Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar's residence. While Mamata claimed that the Centre is misusing CBI and casting aspersions on the integrity of an honest police official, CBI alleged that Kumar had destroyed evidence when probing a chit fund scam as part of an SIT.
