Saradha scam probe: CBI moves Supreme Court, says Bengal police not sharing information
, ET Bureau|
Dec 17, 2017, 11.40 PM IST
KOLKATA: The four-year-old investigation into the deposit-taking scam involving the Kolkata-based Saradha Group has sparked a row between the West Bengal Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). In an appeal to the Supreme Court, the CBI has alleged "non-cooperation" on the part of the state police, according to people aware of the matter.
The CBI, which took over the investigation following a Supreme Court order, has said in the appeal that the state police has not replied to several letters seeking information required in the investigation.
The central agency has attached pending letters with the appeal, said one of the persons, who did not wish to be identified. The CBI has expressed concern over "an attempt to deter and derail" the investigation, the person said. The CBI's move to submit the appeal came after the Kolkata Police allegedly grilled one of its officers at a local police station, apparently in retaliation to the central agency's probe into the role of senior police officers of West Bengal Police.
On December 15, the Supreme Court ruled in connection with the case that officers of the CBI cannot be called by the state police till the next date of hearing.
According to the people cited earlier, the CBI suspects that the then top cop of Bidhannagar Police and some of top brass of West Bengal Police had played a questionable role in the Saradha scam investigation. The senior IPS officer, who was summoned by the central investigating agency in this regard, is currently posted with Kolkata Police.
Initially, in 2013, when the Saradha Group of companies went bust, the investigation was entrusted to the Bidhannagar (Salt Lake) police commissionerate by the state government.
The CBI, which took over the investigation following a Supreme Court order, has said in the appeal that the state police has not replied to several letters seeking information required in the investigation.
The central agency has attached pending letters with the appeal, said one of the persons, who did not wish to be identified. The CBI has expressed concern over "an attempt to deter and derail" the investigation, the person said. The CBI's move to submit the appeal came after the Kolkata Police allegedly grilled one of its officers at a local police station, apparently in retaliation to the central agency's probe into the role of senior police officers of West Bengal Police.
On December 15, the Supreme Court ruled in connection with the case that officers of the CBI cannot be called by the state police till the next date of hearing.
According to the people cited earlier, the CBI suspects that the then top cop of Bidhannagar Police and some of top brass of West Bengal Police had played a questionable role in the Saradha scam investigation. The senior IPS officer, who was summoned by the central investigating agency in this regard, is currently posted with Kolkata Police.
Initially, in 2013, when the Saradha Group of companies went bust, the investigation was entrusted to the Bidhannagar (Salt Lake) police commissionerate by the state government.
