Procedure to arrest Kolkata Police Commissioner was questionable: Ex CBI officers

By Sfoorti Mishra

New Delhi, 4 February (ANI): Two former CBI officers on Monday said the procedure adopted to arrest Kolkata Police commissioner Rajeev Kumar was "questionable".
A high-voltage drama broke out on Sunday evening in Kolkata after a team of CBI sleuths reached Kumar's residence to arrest the top cop in connection with a chit-fund scam. Following which the officials of the Central probe agency were detained by the local police.
Ex CBI joint director Shantonu Sen dubbed the entire episode as "shameful" while adding that the CBI should have procured the arrest warrant from the special court before making the move.
Sen said the incident looked like an attack and hampered the image of the CBI.
"State police and CBI work harmoniously with each other. The state police is supposed to assist and help the CBI in various matters but in this case it is very unfortunate that the CBI and Kolkata police had face off. The entire episode is very shameful." Sen told ANI.
"They could have first taken required documents like arrest warrant from the CBI special court in order to take action on the commissioner of police then not only CM but everyone would accept the action taken by the CBI against the commissioner. It looked like an attack. Whole episode is unfortunate and has put CBI to shame.," he added.
Further suggesting that there were no need to move the Supreme Court, Sen said the face-off between the law enforcement agencies has given politicians an opportunity to take political mileage.
"It has also given politicians an opportunity to take political mileage as elections are approaching.  There was no need to take this matter to the supreme court as it could be looked after by CBI special court," Sen said.
Echoing similar sentiments another ex CBI officer NK Singh questioned the haste in arresting Kumar.
"The issue may have legal competence but the timing and process followed are questionable. It looked like the CBI was showing muscle power. Commissioner of police is not just an individual but represents the entire police department. What was the hurry and emergency to take such decision that too on the order of an interim CBI director," he said.
"It looked like a vendetta. The way the matter has been handled, it has kept the prestige and sanctity of the institution on stake in the eyes of citizens of this country" he told ANI.
At present West Bengal Chief Minister is sitting on 'Save the Constitution' dharna at Metro Channel in Kolkata since Sunday night, to protest against the Centre, alleging that the BJP-led union government is misusing the central investigative agencies.
However, the BJP is firm on its stand  that the TMC government blocking a fair investigation into the scams.
"Is it a crime to investigate scams? If you are not scared of a fair investigation, then why are you protecting the Police Commissioner who was heading the SIT in these scams?," said Union Law Minister while addressing a press confrence in the national capital.
A 1989-batch IPS officer of West Bengal cadre, Rajeev Kumar was heading an SIT on the Saradha and Rose Valley scams. The CBI wanted the top officer to hand over the seizure list made during his probe, sources said.
Interim chief Nageshwar Rao also alleged that the CBI has evidence that Kumar has hampered with the evidence in the said scam. (ANI)