The Supreme Court has ordered the withdrawal of protection from arrest after seven days of former Kolkata top cop Rajeev Kumar in the Saradha chit fund scam. This SC directive is likely to further escalate the bitter face- off between the TMC and the BJP.

The court in its order said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will act in accordance with law, thus giving a free hand to the agency to arrest Kumar.

The court has given days to Rajeev Kumar to seek legal remedies, in effect, he cannot be arrested for seven days and can use this time to seek anticipatory bail.

The CBI had told the top court that it wanted custodial interrogation of Kumar, who was earlier heading West Bengal Police SIT probing the chit fund scam, as there was prima facie evidence of his allegedly trying to destroy or tamper with evidence and “shield the high and mighty” in the case.