Enough of the drama! SC dismisses Rajeev Kumar’s plea on extended protection from arrest

New Delhi, May 24: Trying hard to shield himself from being exposed in the infamous Saradha Chit Fund Case, former Commissioner of Kolkata Police Rajeev Kumar had sought protection from arrest. As the winds changed its way, so it Supreme Court as it refused to entertain Rajeev Kumar’s plea on extension of protection from arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Saradha chit fund case. 

It has been reported that his protection from arrest till a concerned jurisdictional court in West Bengal decides on his anticipatory bail plea ends on today (24 May, Friday). Dismissing his petition, the vacation bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice MR Shah said that Kumar can approach the Calcutta High Court or a trial court for relief as "they are functional". "There is no vacation there (in courts of West Bengal). Seek appropriate remedy," the Supreme Court said.

In its 17 May order, the top court had expressed concern over the confrontation between the CBI and the West Bengal Police in the Saradha chit fund case, saying that "at the receiving end are silently waiting lakhs of small-town and rural investors who have been deprived and looted of their savings".

The bench had said that the situation was grim as both sides had hardened their stand. There was no administrative mechanism in place to prevent and resolve such conflicts between two wings of the police force in the country. The court had also noted that the West Bengal government and Kumar have alleged "political vendetta" and had made allegations against former interim CBI director M Nageswara Rao.

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.