New Delhi:
Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar will be questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at the CBI office in Shillong on Sunday as well in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam, according to news agency ANI. Suspended Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh could also be questioned along with Kumar in front of the CBI team on Sunday. Interestingly, during the interrogation, Rajeev Kumar’s lawyer told the CBI that the top cop can’t be in the Meghalaya capital for too long since Saraswati Puja falls on Saturday and Sunday in West Bengal followed by Valentine's Day in a few days, hence Kumar has to look after the law and order situation in the state during that period, according to sources. The CBI, however, seems to have rejected the request.
"I have been asked by the CBI to attend the Shillong Office on February 10 at 10 am. So, I am here. I shall attend the CBI office tomorrow as directed by them," Ghosh, who is in Shillong, told news agency ANI.
Former TMC MP Kunal Ghosh in Shillong: I have been asked by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to attend the Shillong Office on 10th (Feb) at 10 am. So, I am here. I shall attend the CBI office tomorrow as directed by them. #Meghalaya pic.twitter.com/ZevBu5Y5ec
— ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2019
Earlier on Saturday, the CBI began questioning the Kolkata Police chief at highly secured agency's office in Shillong, Kumar, his counsel Biswajit Deb and senior IPS officers Javed Shamim and Murlidhar Sharma arrived at the probe agency's office at 11 am.
Kumar's counsel and the two IPS officers were asked to leave the CBI office within 30 minutes, they said. Kumar is being interrogated at the highly secured CBI office at Oakland area in the Meghalaya capital where three senior CBI sleuths from Delhi reached on Friday.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday had directed the Kolkata Police chief to appear before the CBI and "faithfully" cooperate in the investigation of cases arising out of the Saradha chit fund scam while making it clear that he will not be arrested.
The CBI had alleged in the Supreme Court that Kumar, who was leading the SIT probe into Saradha chit fund scam, tampered with the electronic evidence and handed over documents to the agency, some of which were "doctored".
The apex court directed him to appear before the investigating agency at a neutral place in Shillong "to avoid all unnecessary controversy". CBI officials had gone to Kumar's residence in Kolkata to question him on February 3 but their attempt was thwarted by the police, following which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee staged a three-day dharna.
(With PTI inputs)
