The West Bengal police on Sunday, 3 February, detained the CBI team which had arrived at the residence of Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar to question him in connection with ponzi scam cases, reported ANI. The team, which had been stopped outside the residence by sentries, has now been taken to a police station.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee reached Kumar's residence soon after the showdown started.
Some CBI officers were forcefully taken to the police station from outside Kolkata Police commissioner's residence, PTI quoted officials as saying.
The police force of Bidhan Nagar was also present outside the CBI regional office at the CGO Complex in the state capital.
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The CBI had been trying to locate Kumar to question him in connection with Rose Valley and Saradha ponzi scam cases. Reports suggested that the agency were planning arrest him as the last resort.
The IPS officer, who led a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of West Bengal Police probing the scams, needed to be questioned regarding missing documents and files but he had not responded to notices to appear before the agency, officials said, according to PTI.
When the CBI team reached Kumar's residence, it was stopped outside by officials and sentries, they said.
A team of Kolkata Police officers rushed to the spot to speak to the CBI officials and tried to enquire whether they had the required documents to question Kumar.
Kumar, a 1989-batch IPS officer of West Bengal cadre, did not even attend a meeting with Election Commission officials who had gone to Kolkata to review election preparedness, sources said.
A statement was issued on Sunday from the Kolkata Police, dismissing reports of him being missing from work.
“Please take note that not only is the CP Kolkata available in the city, but has also been attending office on a regular basis, with the exception of 31 January 2019, when he was on leave for a day. All concerned may please take note that if any news is spread without proper verification, Kolkata Police will initiate strict legal action against defamation of both the CP Kolkata and Kolkata Police.”Kolkata Police
'Kolkata Police Commissioner Among the Best in the Word': Mamata
Earlier on Sunday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called the Kolkata Police commissioner "among the best in the world", as she attacked the BJP leadership for "doing the worst kind of political vendetta".
(With inputs from PTI and ANI.)
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