Kolkata top cop does not turn up at CBI office following summons.
Former Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar, who was asked by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to appear before it for questioning in connection with multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam, did not turn up at the agency's city office on Saturday.
Kumar is being investigated by the agency in connection with the Saradha scandal, a multi-crore Ponzi scheme financial fiasco which left thousands of investors penniless in Bengal.
Rajeev Kumar, who is currently the West Bengal CID Additional Director General, was part of a Special Investigation Team set up by the state government to investigate the scam before the Supreme Court handed over the case to the CBI in 2014, along with other chit fund cases. He is accused of tampering with evidence in the case.
After the Calcutta High Court withdrew his protection from CBI arrests on Friday, the CBI reached the ex-top cop's doorstep on Friday and served him a notice, asking him to appear before the investigating agency at 10 AM on Saturday.
However, according to the latest updates, the IPS officer did not appear at the agency's Kolkata office.
Later during the day, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Joint Director Sai Manohar arrived at the CBI office in Kolkata's CGO Complex. He, along other officials of the probe agency, later met CBI counsel YJ Dastur, reportedly to take legal advice on the matter. The CBI team sought Mr Dastur's advice ob legal options against Kumar.
Sources said Kumar has asked a month time to join the probe, citing his wife's ill health.
On Friday, a Calcutta High Court Bench headed by Justice Madhumita Mitra while reading out the judgement had said that providing interim protection against CBI's arrests is equivalent to obstruction of justice by interrupting due procedure.
The Saradha Chit Fund Scam is a multi crore-rupee scam, agencies say it would be around 2,000 crores but both investigating agencies - ED and CBI are yet to reach a conclusion on the exact amount of the chit fund scam. The scam duped lakhs of people in the state promising higher rates of returns on their investments.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "File Photo:")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}