agencies / New Delhi
The Supreme Court vacated its order today granting protection from arrest to former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar in Saradha chit fund case. The apex court said its February 5 order granting interim protection to Kumar will continue for seven days from today to enable him to approach the competent court for legal remedy.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked the CBI to act in accordance with the law in the case.
The Election Commission on Wednesday had ordered the removal of Kumar, who was posted as Additional Director General, CID, in West Bengal for allegedly failing to control incidents of violence in the state and had asked him to report to the Union Home Ministry on Thursday.
Kumar was removed along with West Bengal’s Principal Secretary (Home) Atri Bhattacharya after parts of Kolkata witnessed widespread violence during BJP president Amit Shah’s massive roadshow in the city.
Kumar was earlier heading the West Bengal Police’s special investigation team (SIT) probing the chit fund scam.
The apex court had in May 2014 directed the CBI to investigate the case.
The CBI had told the apex court that it wanted custodial interrogation of Kumar as there was prima facie evidence that he was allegedly trying to destroy or tamper with evidence.
The apex court, on February 5, had granted protection from arrest to Kumar while directing him to appear before the CBI and faithfully cooperate into the investigation of cases arising out of the scam.