The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the appeal from former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar seeking extension of the protection from arrest that was withdrawn by the court last week.
The protection from Kumar’s custodial interrogation – sought by the Central Bureau of Investigation that is probing the Saradha chit fund scam – ends today.
A vacation bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra said that Kumar can approach the Calcutta High Court or the trial court there.
The senior IPS officer had approached the Supreme Court saying lawyers were on strike in Kolkata.
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”.
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.
