The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to set up a special branch to hear the plea of former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar, who sought an extension of the seven-day protection against arrest in connection with the Saradha chit fun scam investigation.
Kumar sought an extension as lawyers in Kolkata are currently on strike.
The apex court on May 17 lifted the interim protection on Kumar from custodial interrogation and extended it for a week.
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On Monday, Kumar’s lawyer asked for an urgent listing before the vacation bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and Sanjiv Khanna and said they needed time to approach a court in Kolkata. However, since the order was passed by a three-judge bench, the court said there should be appeal for listing the matter before an appropriate bench. Today however, the apex court refused to set up a special branch for hearing the matter.
Kumar was investigating the Saradha chit fund scam which was later taken over by the CBI. The central investigating agency has alleged that Kumar had tampered with documents and proof in connection with the probe.
The former Kolkata CP however, has told the court that he was targeted by the CBI due to “mala fide intent” and “conflict of interest” of the investigating agency’s former interim chief M Nageswara Rao. He has also alleged that he was targeted by the CBI as part of the larger conspiracy between two BJP leaders, and had 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”.
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The CBI on the other hand has alleged that Kumar “did not disclose any information crucial to investigation of the chit fund cases and gave evasive replies”, and that he had not cooperated with the investigation.
