Saradha Scam: Former Kolkata Top Cop Rajeev Kumar Asked To Appear Before CBI Today

Kolkata: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) serves former Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar a notice to appear tomorrow for interrogation in #SaradhaScam https://t.co/79D2NrGoYK

— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2019

Earlier, the Bench of Justice Madhumita Mitra refused to extend Kumar's interim protection beyond Friday. "The application filed by the petitioner Rajeev Kumar has been heard by the court and turned down, and all the interim orders passed earlier by the honourable judges were vacated and turned down," the CBI counsel told reporters.

The court has also rejected Kumar's prayer for quashing of a CBI notice that sought his appearance for questioning in the case.

Kumar, who is currently the West Bengal CID Additional Director General, was part of a Special Investigation Team set up by the state government to investigate the scam before the Supreme Court handed over the case to the CBI in 2014, along with other chit fund cases.

The Saradha group of companies has allegedly duped lakhs of people to the tune of Rs 2500 crore, promising higher rates of returns on their investments.

Kumar was given interim protection till May 30 and was subsequently extended several times. The CBI is seeking Kumar's custodial interrogation arguing certain documents seized by the SIT during the initial investigation into the scam was not handed over to it.

HIGHLIGHTS

• CBI has asked Rajeev Kumar to appear befor it for interrogation in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam.
• Earlier, the Bench of Justice Madhumita Mitra refused to extend Kumar's interim protection beyond Friday.
• The Saradha group of companies has allegedly duped lakhs of people to the tune of Rs 2500 crore.