According to an agency official, the special 10-member CBI team that was sent to Kolkata to track down former city police commissioner Rajeev Kumar has now returned to its headquarters in New Delhi. The team returned empty-handed. Rajeev Kumar has been evading summons in connection with the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam. The special CBI team sent to retrieve him had visited various locations in search of Kumar but failed to locate him. Sources had earlier reported that simultaneous raids were being conducted at Kumar's official residence, the IPS Mess, the Taj Gateway Hotel, and the Taj Vivanta Hotel in Kolkata.

Calcutta court had withdrawn his safety

In connection with the case, a Calcutta court had withdrawn the safety that it had earlier granted to Kumar. The senior IPS officer, who has been accused of tampering with essential proof within the Saradha chit fund case by CBI, had moved a number of courts over the previous two weeks searching for anticipatory bail but had failed. He had also gone up and moved the Calcutta High Court, which is at present hearing his pre-arrest bail plea.

The Saradha group of corporations has allegedly duped lakhs of individuals to the tune of Rs 2500 crore, promising greater returns on their investments.

READ | CBI raids five locations in Kolkata in search of ex-cop Rajeev Kumar

Kumar was himself heading the investigation earlier

During the investigation in the case, the Kolkata Police Commissioner was himself heading the SIT formed by WB Government to probe the Saradha Chit fund case. However, CBI noticed discrepancies, and that Kumar was being allegedly evasive about missing pieces of evidence in relation to the probe. After due investigation in February 2019, a team of CBI officials arrived at Rajeev Kumar's residence to arrest him.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had staged a dharna opposing the arrest of the Police Commissioner by the CBI. She called it a violation of the constitution.

READ | Saradha scam: Rajeev Kumar seeks urgent hearing for anticipatory bail

READ | Former Kolkata cop Rajeev Kumar responds to CBI, says 'leave extended'

(With PTI Inputs)