A look out notice was issued against former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar on Sunday on the recommendation of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which is probing the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam.

The notice, which is valid for a year till 23 May, 2020, was issued by the Bureau of immigration.

This means that Kumar, an accused in the Saradha chit fund scam, cannot leave the country and will be handed to the CBI if he tries to leave India from any of the airports or sea ports.

The development came after the Supreme Court on Friday refused to grant Kumar an extension of seven-day protection from arrest in the chit fund case.

Kumar had moved the apex court seeking protection from arrest by CBI till concerned jurisdictional court in West Bengal decides his anticipatory bail plea.

“You (Rajeev Kumar) can go to Calcutta High Court or trial courts as they are functional. There is no vacation there (in courts of West Bengal). Seek appropriate remedy,” a vacation bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra told the IPS officer.

Kumar had in his reason for extension cited the strike by lawyers in West Bengal because of which he could not move the court in the state.

The top court had on 17 May vacated the interim protection extended to 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 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 5 February order granting protection to Rajeev Kumar from arrest.

An intense drama was witnessed on 3 February, 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.

Kumar is currently an officer of the ministry of home affairs in Delhi. He was removed as ADG CID of Bengal by the Election Commission after violence broke out during BJP chief Amit Shah’s rally.