Rajeev Kumar tells Supreme Court about “conflict of interest” of former CBI interim chief Nageswara Rao

Former Kolkata Police commissioner Rajeev Kumar has told the Supreme Court that he was targeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Saradha chit fund scam case due to “mala fide intent” and “conflict of interest” of the investigating agency’s former interim chief M Nageswara Rao. Kumar said that Rao’s family members were under the scanner following demonetisation and an investigation had been initiated by the Kolkata Police into the operation of some shell companies that had reportedly received huge cash deposits.

During the probe, the role of Angela Mercantiles Pvt Ltd had come to light and when it was being investigated, the names of Rao’s wife and daughter had come up.

The Bengal Story had done an exclusive story on this and had reported that Rao, under whose instruction officers of the central investigating agency landed at Kumar’s doorstep on the evening of February 3 to “interrogate” him had links with a company whose offices the city police authorities had raided a few weeks earlier.

Also read: EXCLUSIVE: Kolkata Police had recently raided office of firm linked to ex-CBI interim chief Nageswara Rao; firm had financial transactions with his wife and daughter

In the report, The Bengal Story had mentioned that a section of Kolkata Police insiders who know about this probe against the private firm, alleged that the raids and the subsequent probe may have led to the alacrity with which the central agency acted over “interrogating” Kumar, which culminated in the way in which 40 CBI officers landed outside his residence on Loudon Street. The day the CBI officers went to “interrogate” Kumar was also the last day Rao was serving as the CBI interim chief.

A Kolkata Police team had conducted raids some weeks earlier in the offices of Angela Mercantiles Private Ltd (AMPL) in connection with a case of Bowbazar police station.

Kumar has now told the Supreme Court in his 89-page affidavit that “The mala fide intent of the petitioner/CBI herein especially in light of the fact that February 3, 2019, a Sunday, was the last day in office of the interim CBI Director, is writ large on account of the conflict of interest, in the instant matter.”

Kumar also alleged that he has also been targeted by the CBI as part of the larger conspiracy between two BJP leaders, and has named Mukul Roy and Kailash Vijyawargiya. He told the apex court that there is an audio clip where they clearly speak of “targeting” some “senior police officers”.

The Supreme Court will hear the case on April 22.