Former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar faced a major setback from the Calcutta High Court on Friday as the court withdrew his protection from arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) in connection with the multi-crore Sarada Chit Fund scam. CBI wanted to take Kumar under their 'custodial interrogation', as they alleged that Kumar was not cooperating with the agency. CBI had earlier also alleged that Kumar was 'evasive' when the agency had asked him tough questions and hence interrogation in their custody was needed.

READ | Rajeev Kumar's interim protection from CBI arrest withdrawn by HC

Judge says that the court cannot interfere

Rajeev Kumar's prayer for quashing of the CBI notice seeking his appearance for questioning was rejected by a single bench of Justice Madhumita Mitra. The justice stated in her verdict that the court cannot interfere with the investigation but asked the CBI to justify if they arrest the top cop. The court also stated that allegation of the petitioner that he was being targeted and singled out cannot be true as other officers in the SIT were investigated as well. 

READ | Calcutta HC fixes July 2 for hearing Rajeev Kumar's plea in Saradha case
 
A few hours after the verdict was delivered, a CBI team went to the residence of Rajeev Kumar at 34 Park Street. Sources within the CBI tell us the two-member team that went to his house Friday evening, summoned Kumar and asked him to appear in front of the agency tomorrow in the CGO Complex where lies the offices of CBI and ED in Kolkata.

READ | Saradha chit fund case: Rajeev Kumar moves Supreme Court, seek extension of 7-day protection

"An attack on constitutional norms"- West Bengal CM

Rajeev Kumar who is currently the Additional Director General (ADG) of the Central Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police was heading the SIT formed by West Bengal government to probe the Saradha Chit Fund case. Kumar was the Commissioner of Kolkata Police in February when a team of CBI officials went to summon him at his erstwhile residence and were arrested by Kolkata Police. Terming it as "an attack on constitutional norms,'' the Chief Minister of West Bengal sat on a protest dharna after the incident, alleging that BJP led central government was trying to use the CBI to arrest Kumar as a part of their political propaganda. She only called off her dharna days later on the 'insistence' of Chandrababu Naidu.

READ | BIG: Supreme Court withdraws protection from arrest to Mamata Banerjee's top cop Rajeev Kumar on CBI's plea, allows him 7 days time to approach a competent court