Saradha:SC defers contempt hearing against WB officers

A Supreme Court judge on Tuesday recused from taking up the matter related to contempt proceedings against West Bengal Chief Secretary, DGP and then Kolkata police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar.

A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi posted the matter for consideration next week.

At the outset, Justice L Nageswara Rao withdrew himself from the case. This resulted in the court adjourning the matter.

The CBI has sought action against the top officers of the state for having been detained when they made a bid to question the Police Commissioner in Saradha chit fund scam probe. The multi-thousand scam related to duping of the money from lakhs of investors.

On February 3, the CBI officers, who tried to question the police commissioner who headed the SIT before the matter was transferred to the central investigating agency by the Supreme Court on May 9, 2014, faced strong resistance, forcing the agency to approach the top court.

On February 5, the court directed Kumar, who headed the SIT and allegedly did not hand over entire case records and evidence, to make himself available before the CBI and “faithfully” cooperate in the investigation into the Saradha and Rose Valley chit funds scam. It also directed no coercive action or arrest of Kumar should be made by the CBI.

The top court had then issued notice to the three senior officers on a contempt petition filed by the CBI and sought their reply by February 18. The court said the personal presence of the officers may be required on February 20, next date of hearing depending upon their response to the notice.

In their response, the officers tendered “unconditional and unambiguous” apology for any "inadvertent disobedience" of the orders of the apex court but denied all allegations by the CBI.