Saradha Scam: CBI Summons Private Secretary Of Former Kolkata Top Cop Rajeev Kumar

With former Kolkata commissioner Rajeev Kumar skipping third summon of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the multi-crore Saradha scam, the probe agency has now summoned his private secretary Shuvam Banerjee, his two personal security guards and a private travel agent to know about the whereabouts of the illusive cop. Meanwhile, teams of the special crime branch of CBI visited the office of the CID at Bhabani Bhavan as well as various parts of the city in his search.

Kumar has been incommunicado since Friday following his 17 days leave from September 9.

Sources said the CBI sleuths reached a private hospital in South 24 Parganas district to trace the former Kolkata police commissioner. Kumar is alleged to have suppressed evidence crucial for the investigation into the scam.

Meanwhile, Alipore Court has reserved order on the anticipatory bail petition filed by Kumar.

The team of CBI officials had on Friday gone to the official residence of Kumar on Park Street and another to a resort in South 24 Parganas to trace him.

Last week, the DG of West Bengal police apprised CBI that Kumar was on leave from September 9 to 25.

The Saradha group of companies allegedly duped lakhs of people of Rs 2500 crore promising higher rates of return on their investments.

Kumar is accused of tampering with crucial evidence in the Saradha chit fund case. He headed a special investigation team set up to investigate the deposit default scam before the Supreme Court handed over the case to in 2014.