AGENCIES / KOLKATA

A team of CBI officers was stopped from entering the residence of Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar today while they had gone there to question him in connection with Rosevalley and Sarada chit fund scam.

A virtual showdown ensued as Kolkata police personnel forcefully took the CBI officers to Shakespeare Sarani Police Station. Police Officials said, prior permission needed for entering the Chief’s residence.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal DGP Virendra and ADG Law and Order rushed to the residence of the Kolkata Police Commissioner. Meanwhile, Bidhannagar commissioner ate Police has cordoned off the CBI office at CGO complex.

The development comes in the wake of speculations that Rajiv Kumar would be summoned for interrogation into chit fund scam cases including Saradha case. Earlier in the day, chief minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted that Kolkata police commissioner is one of the best in the world and was on leave for just one day. Also, Kolkata police held a press conference and stated that the news about summons is baseless. The state police also informed that they will take legal action against those spreading such news.

At around 6.10 pm CBI officials in two vehicles led by DSP Tathagata Bardhan went to Kumar’s residence at Loudon Street. They were thwarted by a team of policemen led by Meeraj Khalid, Deputy Commissioner (South). CBI officials informed that they wanted to record the statement of Kolkata police commissioner, replying to which police officials stated that they (CBI) need to give prior information.

A group of CBI officials stayed near the residence and another team went to Park street police station. The CBI officials wanted to give a letter of intimation to Park Street police station, however, were told to go to Shakespear Sarani police station under which the commissioner residence falls.