Substantiate charges against Rajeev Kumar: SC to CBI

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the CBI to file an affidavit within two weeks to substantiate its claim that the call data records (CDR) handed over by then Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar with regards to Saradha chit fund scam case was tampered with.

"If it is true, it is very serious matter and subversion of law," a bench presided over by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said.

The court gave the CBI two weeks time to file the affidavit in a contempt petition moved after the probe agency faced obstructions in its bid to question Kumar in the case.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, contended that the CDR handed over by Kumar, who was then heading the SIT, was tampered with.

Some of the details related to phone numbers of important people were erased, he said.

The CBI has sought action against the top officers of West Bengal government including the chief secretary and DGP for detaining its sleuths when they made a bid to question the police commissioner in the Saradha chit fund scam case.

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.

It also directed no coercive action or arrest of Kumar be made by the CBI.