In a big development in the Saradha chit fund scam case, former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar's anticipatory bail plea has been rejected by Barasat District Sessions Court on Tuesday evening. After a special court refused to hear Kumar's plea on Tuesday, he had moved Barasat District Sessions Court for anticipatory bail. Refusing to hear the plea, the special court judge Sanjib Talukdar had told that it does not have jurisdiction to hear anticipatory bail prayers.

READ: Saradha case: CBI inquires about Rajeev Kumar at Bengal Secretariat

The former Kolkata Police Commissioner on September 16 failed to show up on being summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Following his absence, the office of Chief Secretary wrote back to the agency. In their letter to the agency, the office of CS stated that Rajeev Kumar was on personal leave from September 9 to September 25. The copy of CBI’s summon was sent to the State Secretariat - Nabanna - and to Kumar's official residence at 34 Park Street. Kumar was summoned at the Central Government Office (CGO) complex in Kolkata for questioning in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam on Monday. Kumar was also asked to appear in front of the agency on Saturday as well, which he failed to do claiming that he needs one-month time to appear as his wife is unwell. The development in the case came in quick succession after the Calcutta High Court on September 13 withdrew its order of interim protection from arrest for Rajeev Kumar. 

READ: CBI summons Rajeev Kumar after HC withdraws protection from arrest

What is Saradha Chit fund Scam?

Saradha Chit fund scam is related to a Ponzi scheme set up by Saradha Group led by businessman Sudipto Sen in the early 2000s. A few years later, a large sum of money was raised by the Saradha group. In 2009, the fraudulent ways by which the company raised money started exploding. With the SEBI's actions, the scheme collapsed by 2013 and the owner fled writing a letter that accused several politicians of making poor investments. Many Trinamool MPs are speculated to be a part of the scam. 

READ: Rajeev Kumar's interim protection from CBI arrest withdrawn by HC

Rajeev Kumar's involvement in Saradha case?

The Kolkata Police Commissioner was heading the SIT formed by WB Government to probe the Saradha Chit fund case. In February, a team of CBI officials arrived at Rajeev Kumar's residence to arrest him. Drama in the case began from that point as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached the location and opposed the arrest of the Police Commissioner by the CBI. Claiming it an attack on 'Constitution', Mamata Banerjee sat on a night-long 'dharna'. Rajeev Kumar is currently West Bengal CID Additional Director General. The CBI started probe against Kumar after suggesting that the SIT team including Kumar has been evasive to CBI questioning regarding the missing pieces of evidence during one year of SIT probe. 

READ: CBI interrogates senior West Bengal bureaucrat in Saradha Scam