The unprecedented standoff between the Centre and West Bengal government is expected to continue, with the CBI locking horns with the Mamata Banerjee government and planning to investigate Sunday’s late-night confrontation at the state police headquarters as part of the “larger conspiracy” to withhold and destroy evidence in the Saradha chit fund scam case.
CBI Joint Director (east) Pankaj Srivastava told THE WEEK that the CBI is going by the “rule book” and there isn’t anything unconstitutional in the way the agency had acted in the case where Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajiv Kumar faces allegations.
Srivastava said, “The case was handed over to the CBI by the Supreme Court. The CBI is acting well within its powers to carry on its investigations without any obstruction. Whether it is questioning certain officials or gathering evidence, the CBI is only doing its duty.” Sources in the CBI said they did not need any prior permission to go to the police commissioner's premises as the agency had already begun its investigations in the case.
On whether any fresh case will be registered by the CBI, Srivastava said there is no need for a fresh FIR for now, as all aspects of investigation will be covered, including the fresh developments, in the ongoing case.
Sources said the CBI is looking at the larger conspiracy in the Saradha scam and the involvement of certain high-ranking officials and individuals. On Sunday night, after the CBI marched its sleuths to Kolkata to question Kumar, they were stopped and detained by the state police even as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sat on a dharna.
Banerjee has been accusing the Narendra Modi government of misusing the CBI for political reasons and destroying the federal structure. In the midst of this slugfest is the CBI, and Banerjee has got the support of other political parties like Congress, National Conference and Aam Aadmi Party, which has set the stage for a political battle on the issue ahead of the general elections.
Meanwhile, additional CBI teams were also put on the job as interim CBI Director Nageshwar Rao took stock of the situation on Sunday night and spoke to Srivastava, who is learnt to have informed that the evidence had been caused to disappear and sleuths were being prevented from taking charge of evidence. The developments are likely to reach the Supreme Court on Monday where the CBI is expected to inform the apex court that it is being prevented from investigating the case.
'CBI personnel threatened'
According to sources, reports were received by the ministry of home affairs on Sunday evening that officers of the CBI in Kolkata had experienced intimidation and threats to personal safety in the course of investigation into the Saradha scam being conducted under the directions of the Supreme Court.
Moreover, the MHA is seeking a report on the role of IPS officers over allegations of obstructing investigation and violation of Service Conduct Rules during Sunday's episode in Kolkata.
Reports were also received that the residence of the joint director, CBI, was surrounded by the Kolkata Police.
The ministry of home affairs, thereafter, took action to deploy Central armed police forces at the office and residential premises of CBI in Kolkata.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh called up Governor of West Bengal Keshari Nath Tripathi to be apprised of the facts of the “unfortunate and unprecedented” situation of officers of a Central investigating agency being manhandled, detained, intimidated and obstructed, sources claimed.
The governor apprised Rajnath that he had summoned the chief secretary and director general of police and asked them to take immediate action to resolve the situation.
The MHA is closely monitoring the situation.