Anuj Sharma appointed as new Kolkata Police Commissioner after Rajeev Kumar’s tenure ends

Days after CBI vs Mamata Banerjee drama, Anuj Sharma has been appointed as the new Kolkata Police Commissioner on Tuesday. The development comes day after incumbent Rajeev Kumar’s tenure as Kolkata Commissioner of Police ended February 18. Kumar has been posted as ADG & IGP, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), West Bengal. The development comes amid his grilling by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The apex investigation agency is questioning Kumar, a 1989-batch IPS officer, because he was heading the SIT formed by West Bengal government to probe Saradha and other ponzi scheme cases.

Rajeev Kumar has served as the Commissioner of Kolkata Police for three years. The CBI is relying on a 91-page letter from Ghosh, who was expelled by TMC, to the Enforcement Directorate, detailing the role of Kumar in handling the ponzi scam probe after the main accused Sudipta Sen and Debjani Mukherjee, both promoters of Saradha group of companies, had fled to Kashmir, officials said in Kolkata.

Earlier, CBI officials had to beat a hasty retreat from Kumar's residence after its officials were not only prevented by guards from entering the premises but were also detained by Kolkata police.

The incident had triggered an unprecedented tussle between the West Bengal government and the Centre as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sat on a sit-in against the CBI move. On Monday, the agency rushed to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court later directed Kumar to appear before the CBI and "faithfully" cooperate into the investigation but made it clear that he should not be arrested.

The court said "to avoid all unnecessary controversy", it was directing Kumar to appear before the agency at a neutral place in Shillong, Meghalaya.

The CBI has temporarily attached 10 more officers with its Kolkata unit, which is probing the scam, to augment strength during questioning of high-profile persons, including Kumar, officials said.

With PTI Inputs