Saradha Scam: Supreme Court Defers Hearing On CBI Plea To Question Kolkata's Former Top Cop

Rajeev Kumar was part of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the Bengal government

The Supreme Court today deferred by two weeks the hearing on CBI's contempt plea against former Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar and others alleging non-cooperation by them in its probe into the multi-crore-rupee Saradha chit fund scam case.

The CBI, entrusted with investigating the Ponzi scheme cases in West Bengal by the top court, filed the contempt plea on February 4, 2019 against Rajeev Kumar, former Chief Secretary Malay Kumar De and state's DGP Virendra saying that it was not getting their cooperation in the ongoing probe.

The agency also sought cancellation of bail granted to Mr Kumar and his custodial interrogation as he was "evasive during questioning".

A bench comprising Justices S Abdul Nazeer and Sanjiv Khanna deferred the hearing by two weeks as it has been conducting final hearing into the case related to winding up of six mutual fund schemes of Franklin Templeton.

During brief hearing, senior advocate AM Singhvi, appearing for one of the bureaucrats, said the agency was "reviving something which is age old".