As a reason for the extension, Kumar cited the strike by lawyers in West Bengal because of which he could not move the court in the state.
Rajeev Kumar (File Photo: IANS)
Former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar on Monday moved the Supreme Court seeking an extension of seven-day protection from arrest by the CBI in the Saradha scam chit fund case.
As a reason for the extension, Kumar cited the strike by lawyers in West Bengal because of which he could not move the court in the state.
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A Supreme Court bench of Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Sanjiv Khanna asked Kumar’s counsel to approach the Secretary-General of the court for setting up of a three-judge bench.
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The Supreme Court had on May 17 vacated the interim protection extended to Rajeev Kumar from arrest by the CBI over his alleged role in destroying evidence in Saradha chit fund case.
The court then gave him seven days to get anticipatory bail from an appropriate court.
The top court had said its February 5 order granting interim protection to Kumar will continue for seven days from Friday so that he approach the competent court for legal remedy.
The CBI had earlier in April moved the Supreme Court seeking permission to arrest and custodial interrogation of Kumar. The probe agency also wanted the top court to withdraw its February 5 order granting protection to Rajeev Kumar from arrest.
The agency has claimed that the Kolkata police chief had destroyed the evidence in the chit fund scam when he headed the SIT. It further said the copies of call records handed over by SIT to CBI were doctored.
An intense drama was witnessed on February 3, when a team of 40-odd CBI officers reached Kumar’s residence, and a team of Kolkata Police officers rushed there to inquire if they had the documents required to question the CP.
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