All efforts of Mamata Banerjee in vain; SC takes off protection shield from former Kolkata top cop Rajeev Kumar

New Delhi, May 17: However hard she tries, she faces defeat and this has been very evident for quite some time now. After Election Commission curtailing campaigning, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gets another setback. The Supreme Court on Friday has taken off the interim protection shield to former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar.

 

The Supreme Court has given seven days’ time given to him to try and get interim relief from a competent court. It has directed the CBI to act in accordance with law. The CBI can arrest and probe him in the Saradha chit fund scam if he is unable to get interim relief in the case.

The Supreme Court was earlier informed by the probe agency that it wanted custodial interrogation of Kumar, who was earlier heading West Bengal Police SIT probing chit fund scam. This was because there was prima facie evidence of his allegedly trying to destroy or tamper with evidence and "shield high and mighty" in the case.

The CBI had claimed in the court that they were seeking vacation of interim protection granted to Kumar. It was because some crucial evidence, collected by the West Bengal Police SIT, was not shared with it despite repeated requests.

Rajeev Kumar was earlier heading the West Bengal Police's special investigation team (SIT) probing the chit fund scam. The apex court had in May 2014 directed the CBI to investigate the case. The apex court, on February 5, had granted protection from arrest to Kumar while directing him to appear before the CBI and "faithfully" cooperate into the investigation of cases arising out of the scam.

Kumar, involved in a face-off with the CBI in connection with the agency's investigation in Saradha and Rose Valley chit fund scams, was removed as Additional Director General, CID, in West Bengal for allegedly failing to control the incidents of violence in the state.