Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien on Sunday alleged an attempt to carry out a constitutional coup in Bengal by the Centre’s Narendra Modi after CBI personnel arrived at Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar’s residence.
Taking to Twitter, O’Brien demanded an immediate ouster of Modi from his post. He wrote, “BJP planning a constitutional coup? 40 CBI officials surround Kolkata Police Commissioner’s home. Destruction of institutions goes on unabated. Our demand in #Parliament on Mon. Modi has to go. We are reaching out and sharing this with all Oppn parties who want to #SaveDemocracy.”
BJP planning a constitutional coup ? 40 CBI officials surround Kolkata Police Commissioner’s home. Destruction of institutions goes on unabated. Our demand in #Parliament on Mon. Modi has to go. We are reaching out and sharing this with all Oppn parties who want to #SaveDemocracy
— Derek O’Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) February 3, 2019
News agency ANI flashed a news item claiming that a CBI team had arrived at the residence of Kumar, who was earlier accused of going underground for the fear of an arrest by the CBI. The Kolkata Police had later denied the reports calling them ‘baseless.’
Chit fund case: Visuals from outside the residence of Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar. A CBI team is present at the spot. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/2nvzbStFa0
— ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2019
A statement by the Kolkata Police had said, “We have noticed a news item doing the rounds of various audio, visual, print, and digital media since Saturday, 02.02.19, to the effect that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is ‘looking for’ Shri Rajeev Kumar, Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, in connection with the Saradha chit fund cases. The news item also mentions that Shri Rajeev Kumar has not been attending office for three days.”
The statement added, “Kolkata Police condemns and denies such baseless news. 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 31.1.19, 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.”
On Sunday, Sunday West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee came to Kumar’s defence alleging that the Centre’s Narendra Modi government was acting in a vindictive manner against Kumar, who she said was the best top cop in the country.
In a series of tweets, Banerjee said, “The highest levels of the BJP leadership are doing the worst kind of political vendetta. Not only are political parties their targets, they are misusing power to take control of the police and destroy all institutions. We condemn this.”
“The Kolkata Police Commissioner is among the best in the world. His integrity, bravery and honesty are unquestioned. He is working 24×7, and was on leave for only one day recently. When you spread lies, the lies will always remain lies,” Banerjee added.
The ruling BJP at the Centre has set its sight on West Bengal ahead of this year’s Lok Sabha polls with an intention to topple the Trinamool government. It hopes to win as many Lok Sabha seats as possible in the parliamentary polls before aiming to win the next assembly polls. On Saturday, Banerjee had alleged that she wouldn’t be surprised if the Modi government will also arrest her cook to harass her ahead of the polls.
By targeting Kumar, the BJP appears to be making desperate attempts to discredit the Trinamool government ahead of the crucial polls. One of the reasons behind targeting Kumar through the CBI is to arrest him and coerce him to speak against Banerjee in the chit fund scam. When Mukul Roy, a former trusted lieutenant of Banerjee quit his association with Trinamool to join the BJP, it was only after the CBI had grilled him in the Sharada scam case. There were reports that his arrest was imminent had he not severed ties with Banerjee.