Days after a standoff between the Mamata Banerjee government and the Centre, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday began questioning Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar in connection with the chit fund case.
Kumar arrived in the state capital of Meghalaya on Friday evening from Kolkata via Guwahati by road with three more West Bengal cadre IPS officers and his younger brother, an official said.
Kumar will be interrogated by CBI sleuths at two locations -- in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in Shillong and at an undisclosed location. He is accompanied by three IPS officers of the Kolkata Police.
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"Kumar will be questioned in CBI office, Shillong branch by a team of interrogators in connection with the chit fund case on Saturday," a senior official told IANS on condition of anonymity.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Kolkata Police commissioner to appear before the CBI and "faithfully" cooperate into 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".
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The apex court directed him to appear before the investigating agency at a neutral place in Shillong "to avoid all unnecessary controversy".
The CBI officials had gone to Kumar's residence to question him on Sunday but the team was detained by the Kolkata police.
They were released three hours later after the Union home ministry worked the phones, but the incident led to a standoff between the West Bengal government and the Centre, with chief minister Mamata Banerjee launching a protest and accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah of plotting a ‘coup’ and using the CBI and government agencies to threaten political opponents.
(With inputs from agencies)
