The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice to IPS officer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/former-kolkata-police-commissioner-rajeev-kumar-granted-anticipatory-bail-by-calcutta-high-court-253138">Rajeev Kumar </a>on an appeal filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seeking cancellation of an anticipatory bail granted to him by the Calcutta High Court in connection with the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde asked the probe agency to present before it facts and explain why custodial interrogation of Kumar is required.

A person can avail anticipatory bail from the court after the police register an FIR against them but before they are arrested by them in a case. The Calcutta High Court had granted interim protection from arrest to Kumar last month.

The CBI in its plea challenged the High Court`s order and urged the apex court to allow the custodial interrogation of Kumar asserting that it was needed to probe whether he sabotaged the investigation in the case.

"He is a high-rank police officer. Why do you require his custodial interrogation? You need to explain before us the reasons for it," the bench asked the CBI.

The 1989-batch IPS officer is accused of destroying evidence related to the scam when he headed the special investigation team (SIT) of the West Bengal Police to probe the matter. He is currently the Additional Director General (ADG) of the West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID).&nbsp;

The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice to IPS officer Rajeev Kumar on an appeal filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seeking cancellation of an anticipatory bail granted to him by the Calcutta High Court in connection with the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam.

The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice to IPS officer Rajeev Kumar on an appeal filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seeking cancellation of an anticipatory bail granted to him by the Calcutta High Court in connection with the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde asked the probe agency to present before it facts and explain why custodial interrogation of Kumar is required. A person can avail anticipatory bail from the court after the police register an FIR against them but before they are arrested by them in a case. The Calcutta High Court had granted interim protection from arrest to Kumar last month. The CBI in its plea challenged the High Court`s order and urged the apex court to allow the custodial interrogation of Kumar asserting that it was needed to probe whether he sabotaged the investigation in the case. "He is a high-rank police officer. Why do you require his custodial interrogation? You need to explain before us the reasons for it," the bench asked the CBI. The 1989-batch IPS officer is accused of destroying evidence related to the scam when he headed the special investigation team (SIT) of the West Bengal Police to probe the matter. He is currently the Additional Director General (ADG) of the West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Saradha scam: SC issues notice to IPS officer Rajeev Kumar on CBI''s plea challenging his pre-arrest bail

Former TMC MP Kunal Ghosh on Wednesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in connection with Saradha chit fund case.&nbsp;

The ED had on Monday summoned Ghosh to appear before it. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had earlier questioned Ghosh and Rajeev Kumar, who headed the Special Investigation Team of the state police that probed the multi-crore scam case. Ghosh was arrested by the state police on November 23, 2013.&nbsp;

He sent to CBI custody on September 4, 2014 after the agency took over the investigation on the orders of the Supreme Court. In 2016, the Calcutta High Court had granted interim bail to Ghosh against a bond of Rs 2 lakh.&nbsp;

Kumar, the former Kolkata Police commissioner, is accused of tampering with evidence in the case.&nbsp;

The CBI had earlier said that there was prima facie evidence against Kumar that he "tried to destroy or tamper with evidence and shield high and mighty" in the case. The probe agency had claimed that Kumar did not disclose any crucial information he was privy to.&nbsp;

An unprecedented chain of events unfolded on February 3 when a CBI team was detained by Kolkata Police when it reached Kumar`s residence to question him.&nbsp;

It was followed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's visit to the officer`s home. The CBI officers were taken into police custody and later released.

 
&nbsp;

Former TMC MP Kunal Ghosh on Wednesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in connection with Saradha chit fund case. The ED had on Monday summoned Ghosh to appear before it.

Former TMC MP Kunal Ghosh on Wednesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in connection with Saradha chit fund case. The ED had on Monday summoned Ghosh to appear before it. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had earlier questioned Ghosh and Rajeev Kumar, who headed the Special Investigation Team of the state police that probed the multi-crore scam case. Ghosh was arrested by the state police on November 23, 2013. He sent to CBI custody on September 4, 2014 after the agency took over the investigation on the orders of the Supreme Court. In 2016, the Calcutta High Court had granted interim bail to Ghosh against a bond of Rs 2 lakh. Kumar, the former Kolkata Police commissioner, is accused of tampering with evidence in the case. The CBI had earlier said that there was prima facie evidence against Kumar that he "tried to destroy or tamper with evidence and shield high and mighty" in the case. The probe agency had claimed that Kumar did not disclose any crucial information he was privy to. An unprecedented chain of events unfolded on February 3 when a CBI team was detained by Kolkata Police when it reached Kumar`s residence to question him. It was followed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's visit to the officer`s home. The CBI officers were taken into police custody and later released.

Saradha chit fund case: Former TMC MP Kunal Ghosh appears before Enforcement Directorate

The Supreme Court Friday vacated its order granting protection from arrest to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/saradha-chit-fund-case-supreme-court-says-cant-close-eyes-to-very-very-serious-facts-in-cbi-status-report-205769">former Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar</a> in the Saradha chit fund scam case.

The apex court said its February 5 order granting interim protection to Kumar will continue for seven days from Friday to enable him to approach the competent court for legal remedy.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked the CBI to act in accordance with law in the case.

One of the advocates who appeared for Kumar said that as per the apex court order, Kumar cannot be arrested in the next seven days.

Also read- <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/mamata-vs-cbi-saradha-scam-probe-shouldnt-be-politicised-195512">Mamata vs CBI: Saradha scam probe shouldn't be politicised</a>

"We have withdrawn the protection given to Rajeev Kumar vide order dated February 5," the court said while pronouncing the order.&nbsp;

The judgment was pronounced by Justice Sanjiv Khanna who was part of the bench headed by the CJI and Justice Deepak Gupta.

Pronouncing the operative part of the order, Justice Khanna said, "We are leaving it to the CBI to act in accordance with law."

"Our February 5 order will continue for seven days form today to enable Rajeev Kumar to approach the competent court for relief," he said.

At the outset, Justice Khanna, while pronouncing the order, said, "We have expressed our concern as to what has happened in the matter."

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.&nbsp;

The Supreme Court Friday vacated its order granting protection from arrest to former Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar in the Saradha chit fund scam case.

The Supreme Court Friday vacated its order granting protection from arrest to former Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar in the Saradha chit fund scam case. The apex court said its February 5 order granting interim protection to Kumar will continue for seven days from Friday to enable him to approach the competent court for legal remedy. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked the CBI to act in accordance with law in the case. One of the advocates who appeared for Kumar said that as per the apex court order, Kumar cannot be arrested in the next seven days. Also read- Mamata vs CBI: Saradha scam probe shouldn't be politicised "We have withdrawn the protection given to Rajeev Kumar vide order dated February 5," the court said while pronouncing the order. The judgment was pronounced by Justice Sanjiv Khanna who was part of the bench headed by the CJI and Justice Deepak Gupta. Pronouncing the operative part of the order, Justice Khanna said, "We are leaving it to the CBI to act in accordance with law." "Our February 5 order will continue for seven days form today to enable Rajeev Kumar to approach the competent court for relief," he said. At the outset, Justice Khanna, while pronouncing the order, said, "We have expressed our concern as to what has happened in the matter." 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.

Saradha scam: Supreme Court vacates order granting protection from arrest to ex-Kolkata Commissioner Rajeev Kumar

The Supreme Court Tuesday termed as "very very serious" the revelations made by CBI in its status report relating to the recent interrogation of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chit-fund-scams-kolkata-police-chief-grilled-for-11-hours-in-second-round-of-questioning-196473">the then Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar</a> in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam case.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said it cannot "close its eyes" if some "very very serious facts" are disclosed to it and directed CBI to file an application seeking appropriate relief against Kumar, who had earlier headed the state SIT to probe the chit fund scam.

The bench, which also comprised Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, granted 10 days to the probe agency for filing the application. Kumar and others can respond to the plea seven days thereafter.

The top court refused to drop the contempt proceedings against the West Bengal DGP, the chief secretary and Kumar.

It was hearing the CBI's contempt application against various senior officials of the West Bengal government on the ground of non-cooperation in its probe and alleged tampering of evidence including call data records (CDRs) of key accused and Sardha group CMD Sudipta Sen and Debjani Mukherjee.

The court, which had earlier directed CBI Director to file an affidavit giving details about the alleged contempt committed by West Bengal cops and others in the case, perused the reply of the CBI chief and the fresh status report, pertaining to quizzing of Kumar.

"We have gone through your (CBI's) status report. There are something very very serious," the bench said.

The bench asked Attorney General K K Venugopal, representing CBI, to file an appropriate application as it cannot pass any order on the prayers as they were part of the sealed cover report to which the other side has no access.

"File an application or an affidavit, if you want to press for your reliefs. We cannot act unilaterally and the other side has to be heard," the bench said.

"We are not passing any order. File an application and give the other side an opportunity to reply," the bench said.

Senior advocate AM Singhvi, appearing for West Bengal officials, opposed the liberty being granted to CBI to file an application against Kumar.

"While considering the contempt matter, suppose some very very serious things come to our notice then, should we close our eyes to that," the bench said while asking CBI to file the fresh plea.&nbsp;

At the outset, Venugopal referred to the reply of the CBI Director and alleged that the West Bengal police has not been cooperating with the probe, providing incomplete and tampered with details to the probe agency.

He said the CDRs, provided by the state police, of the key accused to the CBI were matched with those provide by the mobile service providers and various discrepancies were found in them.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, also appearing for CBI, said that there has been serious breach of the apex court order asking state police to cooperate in the investigation.

Earlier, the court had asked the CBI Director to provide information in support of the allegations of tampering and destruction of CDRs by Kumar.

The apex court had said the allegations made by the CBI were serious enough and it was an "obligation" on part of the agency to disclose full details of the alleged contempt committed by the then police commissioner.&nbsp;

It had questioned CBI for the delay in moving the apex court when the agency allegedly noticed the tampering of electronic evidence in June 2018.

The probe agency came out with a contempt petition after the February 3 incident in which the CBI sleuths, who had gone to probe Kumar at his residence, were taken into custody and manhandled by the West Bengal Police.

Though the apex court had taken note of the February 3 incident in which the top cops of the state police allegedly sat with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on dharna, it was annoyed as to why the CBI did not bring to its notice the tampering of the CDRs when it happened in June 2018.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The Supreme Court Tuesday termed as "very very serious" the revelations made by CBI in its status report relating to the recent interrogation of the then Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam case.

The Supreme Court Tuesday termed as "very very serious" the revelations made by CBI in its status report relating to the recent interrogation of the then Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam case. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said it cannot "close its eyes" if some "very very serious facts" are disclosed to it and directed CBI to file an application seeking appropriate relief against Kumar, who had earlier headed the state SIT to probe the chit fund scam. The bench, which also comprised Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, granted 10 days to the probe agency for filing the application. Kumar and others can respond to the plea seven days thereafter. The top court refused to drop the contempt proceedings against the West Bengal DGP, the chief secretary and Kumar. It was hearing the CBI's contempt application against various senior officials of the West Bengal government on the ground of non-cooperation in its probe and alleged tampering of evidence including call data records (CDRs) of key accused and Sardha group CMD Sudipta Sen and Debjani Mukherjee. The court, which had earlier directed CBI Director to file an affidavit giving details about the alleged contempt committed by West Bengal cops and others in the case, perused the reply of the CBI chief and the fresh status report, pertaining to quizzing of Kumar. "We have gone through your (CBI's) status report. There are something very very serious," the bench said. The bench asked Attorney General K K Venugopal, representing CBI, to file an appropriate application as it cannot pass any order on the prayers as they were part of the sealed cover report to which the other side has no access. "File an application or an affidavit, if you want to press for your reliefs. We cannot act unilaterally and the other side has to be heard," the bench said. "We are not passing any order. File an application and give the other side an opportunity to reply," the bench said. Senior advocate AM Singhvi, appearing for West Bengal officials, opposed the liberty being granted to CBI to file an application against Kumar. "While considering the contempt matter, suppose some very very serious things come to our notice then, should we close our eyes to that," the bench said while asking CBI to file the fresh plea. At the outset, Venugopal referred to the reply of the CBI Director and alleged that the West Bengal police has not been cooperating with the probe, providing incomplete and tampered with details to the probe agency. He said the CDRs, provided by the state police, of the key accused to the CBI were matched with those provide by the mobile service providers and various discrepancies were found in them. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, also appearing for CBI, said that there has been serious breach of the apex court order asking state police to cooperate in the investigation. Earlier, the court had asked the CBI Director to provide information in support of the allegations of tampering and destruction of CDRs by Kumar. The apex court had said the allegations made by the CBI were serious enough and it was an "obligation" on part of the agency to disclose full details of the alleged contempt committed by the then police commissioner. It had questioned CBI for the delay in moving the apex court when the agency allegedly noticed the tampering of electronic evidence in June 2018. The probe agency came out with a contempt petition after the February 3 incident in which the CBI sleuths, who had gone to probe Kumar at his residence, were taken into custody and manhandled by the West Bengal Police. Though the apex court had taken note of the February 3 incident in which the top cops of the state police allegedly sat with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on dharna, it was annoyed as to why the CBI did not bring to its notice the tampering of the CDRs when it happened in June 2018.

Saradha chit fund scam case: 'Very very serious' revelations made by CBI in status report, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court Tuesday termed as “very, very serious” the revelations made by CBI in its fresh status report relating to the recent interrogation of the then Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar in connection with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/saradha-chit-fund-probe-sc-directs-cbi-to-file-affidavit-detailing-contempt-by-bengal-cops-200083">Saradha chit fund case</a>.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said it cannot “close its eyes” if some “very, very serious facts” are disclosed to it and directed CBI to file an application seeking appropriate relief against Kumar, who had earlier headed the state SIT on the chit fund case.

The bench, which also comprised Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, granted 10 days to the probe agency for filing the application.

Kumar and others can respond to the plea seven days thereafter.

Supreme Court said that as the CBI’s status report was filed in a sealed cover, it cannot pass any order at the moment without hearing the other side.

The apex court was hearing the CBI’ contempt application against various senior officials of the West Bengal government including state’s DGP and then Kolkata police chief on the ground of non-cooperation in its probe and alleged destruction of evidence.

The Supreme Court Tuesday termed as “very, very serious” the revelations made by CBI in its fresh status report relating to the recent interrogation of the then Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar in connection with the Saradha chit fund case.

The Supreme Court Tuesday termed as “very, very serious” the revelations made by CBI in its fresh status report relating to the recent interrogation of the then Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar in connection with the Saradha chit fund case. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said it cannot “close its eyes” if some “very, very serious facts” are disclosed to it and directed CBI to file an application seeking appropriate relief against Kumar, who had earlier headed the state SIT on the chit fund case. The bench, which also comprised Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, granted 10 days to the probe agency for filing the application. Kumar and others can respond to the plea seven days thereafter. Supreme Court said that as the CBI’s status report was filed in a sealed cover, it cannot pass any order at the moment without hearing the other side. The apex court was hearing the CBI’ contempt application against various senior officials of the West Bengal government including state’s DGP and then Kolkata police chief on the ground of non-cooperation in its probe and alleged destruction of evidence.

Saradha chit fund case: Supreme Court says can’t close eyes to ‘very, very serious’ facts in CBI status report

saradha-chit-fund

Saradha Chit Fund, News on Saradha Chit Fund, stories on Saradha Chit Fund, articles on Saradha Chit Fund, Saradha Chit Fund stories at Wion, Saradha Chit Fund news, Saradha Chit Fund latest news

saradha chit-fund

Saradha scam: SC issues notice to IPS officer Rajeev Kumar on CBI''s plea challenging his pre-arrest bail

Saradha chit fund case: Former TMC MP Kunal Ghosh appears before Enforcement Directorate

Saradha scam: Supreme Court vacates order granting protection from arrest to ex-Kolkata Commissioner Rajeev Kumar

Saradha chit fund scam case: 'Very very serious' revelations made by CBI in status report, says Supreme Court

Saradha chit fund case: Supreme Court says can’t close eyes to ‘very, very serious’ facts in CBI status report