West Bengal government and its police refuted CBI allegations in the Supreme Court on Monday that they obstructed investigation into the Saradha chit fund scam cases, with the State cops asserting the Central agency forcefully tried to enter the Kolkata Police Commissioner’s residence on February 3 without valid papers.
Chief Secretary Malay Kumar De, DGP Virendra Kumar and Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar filed separate affidavits in the apex court on the contempt petition moved by the CBI in connection with the scam and tendered “unconditional and unambiguous apology” over alleged disobedience of the court.
The trio, however, maintained that the West Bengal government and the State police at no point of time obstructed investigation nor any official denied cooperation to the CBI.
The officers opposed the contempt petition against them in which the CBI alleged that they were tampering with evidence and not complying with the apex court’s various orders relating to the probe by asserting that there was a need for directions to the CBI not to make any vague allegations without substantial and cogent evidence.
Referring to the February 3 incident, Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar said in his affidavit that the CBI forcibly tried to enter his house without valid papers. The contention has been supported by the DGP in his affidavit.
They have also claimed that no police officials went on ‘dharna manch’ where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee sat to protest the CBI action.
Mr. Kumar, against whom CBI has alleged tampering of electronic evidence including call detail records, said he was never in direct possession of evidence, material or documents.
They responded to the notices issued on February 5 by the apex court which had asked them to clarify their stand on the allegation that evidence was tampered with and the State police was not cooperating with the Central Bureau of Investigation.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had said that after perusing the affidavits, a decision will be taken whether they would required to make personal appearance before it on February 20.
It said the Secretary General of the apex court will inform the trio on February 19 whether they are required to be present on February 20.
