CBI questions Kolkata top cop, ex-TMC MP in Saradha, Rose Valley scams

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with Kolkata Police commissioner Rajeev Kumar during the Joint Investiture Ceremony of West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police, in Kolkata

Current Affairs:

The CBI has been questioning Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar and former TMC MP Kunal Ghosh by making them sit face to face at the probe agency's office here in connection with the Saradha chit fund and Rose Valley scams, officials.

The marathon questioning of Kumar, that began at 10.30 am, was still on at 9.30 pm when this report was filed.

The questioning by the CBI, being done as per the directions of the Supreme Court, continued for the second day on Sunday.

A two-member CBI team, who are the Investigating Officers in the Saradha and Rose Valley scams, arrived here in the afternoon.

Kumar and Ghosh were grilled in the initial period by a 10-member team of the CBI, the officials said.

The Kolkata Police chief was quizzed for nearly nine hours on Saturday by three senior CBI officers about his alleged role in tampering of crucial evidence in the case, they said.
Kumar had led the special investigation team (SIT) formed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to probe the Saradha scam before the case was handed over to the CBI by the apex court.

 Officials in Delhi said the CBI has not acceded to the demand of Kumar to have his questioning session videographed.

Kolkata Police-CBI clash: Mamata sits on dharna, attacks PM Modi over raids

Current Affairs:

High drama unfolded in Kolkata on Sunday in a CBI vs city police face-off, prompting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to stage a dharna at the Metro Channel.

Around 6pm, 40 CBI officers reached Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar’s residence over alleged involvement in chit fund scams linked to Saradha and Rose Valley.

The Kolkata Police is believed to have sought a search warrant. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers’ failure to produce one led the police to detain some officers, who were whisked away in jeeps. There are contradictory reports on whether they were arrested. In a retaliatory move, Kolkata Police also landed at the CGO Complex, the CBI headquarters in the state.

Banerjee rushed to Loudon Street, the Commissioner's residence, to take stock of the situation and threw her weight behind Kumar.

“This has happened a day after (PM) Modi was here,” she said, addressing the media. She also said Ajit Doval (National Security Advisor) was implementing Modi's agenda and he was giving instruction to the CBI.


 "Whenever an election comes, there is some issue around chit fund,” said Banerjee, challenging that Kumar's link with chit fund be proved. Kumar was leading the SIT probe in the Saradha scam...Read More