SC asks states/UTs to decide on plea seeking to conduct yatras on poll awareness
The bench was told that such orders prohibit all kinds of assemblies, meetings and demonstrations during the duration of elections.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday moved the Supreme Court seeking directions to Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar to cooperate with the investigation in the Saradha chit fund case.
The probe agency also appealed in the court against the West Bengal cops after they reportedly entered into a scuffle with the CBI officers outside Rajeev Kumar’s official residence at Loudon Street after the latter arrived there to question the top cop.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta representing CBI sought directions to Kumar to cooperate with the investigation and surrender all the evidence related to the chit fund case, stating that the top cop was a “potential accused”.
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Mehta further submitted before the court that the CBI team was arrested and kept in alleged custody.
Replying to the plea, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi informed that the matter will be taken up for hearing on Tuesday.
The CBI had called for an urgent hearing of the matter stating that “these are extraordinary circumstances”.
The CBI has claimed that Kumar has been instrumental in causing destruction of evidence and obstructing justice.
Hearing on the CBI plea in the Supreme Court, CJI Gogoi 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.”
The Supreme Court further permitted the CBI to bring the material on record to support its claim that the West Bengal Police Commissioner was trying to destroy evidence.
The drama started on Sunday afternoon 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.
Later, a small team of CBI officials was taken to the Shakespeare Sarani police station for further discussions. Soon, more CBI men arrived at the Loudon Street home of Rajeev Kumar and a commotion ensued. Some CBI men were then bundled into police jeeps and taken to the police station.
After the CBI-police face-off, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee began a sit-in in front of the Metro Cinema to protest “insults” faced at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. She accused both the BJP leaders of organising a “coup” on West Bengal.
Banerjee said the government wanted to impose President’s rule in all the states ruled by an opposition party.
She claimed that the CBI went to Kumar without a search warrant.
Opposition leaders, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, have extended support to Mamata Banerjee.
The CBI is probing cases such as illegal mining case and the Saradha scam in which it was seeking to question the Kolkata police chief. The cases allegedly involve opposition leaders. The probe was handed over to the CBI by the Supreme Court.
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