Mamata Banerjee government threatens Arnab Goswami's Republic for reporting on protection given to under-scanner Kolkata CP Rajeev Kumar. Here's the letter

The Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government has issued an official letter threatening Arnab Goswami's Republic TV and Republic Bharat over reporting on the dramatic face-off that ensued on Sunday night when a CBI team arrived at the residence of Kolkata CP Rajeev Kumar to question him in connection with the Saradha chit-fund scam. 

In the letter, issued under the letterhead of the Government of West Bengal and written by top officers of the Kolkata police, the Mamata government says that Republic TV's coverage had defamed the reputation of the Kolkata CP and the Kolkata Police.

When the CBI had arrived at the Kolkata CP's residence on Sunday night, after first having informed the Kolkata Police they would be undertaking the secret operation, they were stopped at the gate and told, as per CBI sources, that Rajeev Kumar wasn't present inside.

As more Kolkata Police officials arrived at the location, the outnumbered CBI officials were overpowered, forcibly shoved into vehicles and detained.

Right after that, Mamata Banerjee arrived, held a meeting inside the house, came out and addressed the media attacking the Modi government. As she announced that she would be sitting on a dharna on account of this, Kolkata CP Rajeev Kumar emerged from the house, showed his face to cameras, and returned inside.

As Mamata Banerjee sat on her dharna, Rajeev Kumar was also sitting alongside her. Furthermore, a number of other top West Bengal officers and bureaucrats joined in, as a result of which, citing a violation of rules for public servants, the Central government has stripped the medals off five top West Bengal officers and also denied them future government deputations.

FULL ACCOUNT: Dramatic CBI Vs Kolkata Police Face-off Spirals Out Of Control, Mamata Banerjee Sits On Dharna And CBI Mulls Moving Supreme Court. Here's what happened

The Supreme Court has also issued a contempt notice to the West Bengal Chief Secretary, the West Bengal Commissioner of Police and another officer, while Kolkata CP Rajeev Kumar has been directed to appear before the CBI.

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Here is the letter from the West Bengal government to Republic TV: