india

Updated: May 03, 2019 01:38 IST

Former Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar claimed on Thursday that Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) plea for his custodial interrogation in connection with Saradha and other chit funds cases was a politically motivated exercise that is “mala fide.”

Kumar’s lawyer, senior advocate Indira Jaising, submitted before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, that Kumar was innocent. He was in-charge of the special investigation team (SIT) constituted by the West Bengal government in 2013 to probe the Saradha case and no vicarious liability can be laid upon him, she said. The case was transferred to the CBI in 2015.

The top court is hearing CBI’s application asking it to vacate the order that restrains the central agency from arresting Kumar in connection with the case. Kumar was only supervising the work of the SIT comprising 170 personnel, and was merely entrusted with the task of providing logistic supports in the form of infrastructural facilities to the team, she argued.

Jaising also claimed the CBI’s action was motivated by malice and it was evident as it did not take any action against then Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Kunal Ghosh, who was charge-sheeted by the West Bengal police in the Saradha case.