The row between the CBI and the West Bengal government on Monday took a dramatic twist after the central government moved the Supreme Court on Sunday’s unprecedented developments.
Representing the CBI, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Supreme Court that the CBI team was arrested and kept in alleged custody on Sunday night adding that Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar should ‘immediately surrender.’ The CBI, in its petition, also said that the agency had summoned Kumar several times but he failed to cooperate and created hurdles in the investigation.
Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi agreed to hear the matter on Tuesday before issuing a chilling warning to Kumar. CJI Gogoi, according to news agency ANI, said, “If Kolkata Police Commissioner even remotely thinks of destroying evidence, bring the material before this Court. We will come down so heavily on him that he will regret.”
This was in response to the CBI accusing Kumar of destroying the evidence in the Saradha chit fund case.
On Sunday, police in Bengal had detained the CBI team after they arrived at the residence of Kumar reportedly to arrest him. A group of CBI officers were later taken to a police station in Kolkata. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a campaign to ‘save the democracy’ since Sunday night. Several opposition leaders including Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, former Prime Minister HD Devegowda, MNS supremo Raj Thackeray have extended their support to Banerjee in her campaign.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien said, “We have spoken to all opposition parties, we all will go forward. We have to save the Constitution, the country and the federal structure. Later today, all opposition parties will go to the Election Commission.”
Meanwhile, AAP MP Sanjay Singh on Monday gave notice in Rajya Sabha under rule 267 for suspension of business, demanding discussion on ‘misuse of CBI’.