SC refuses to monitor CBI probe in Saradha case in West Bengal

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to monitor the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)’s probe into the Saradha chit fund scam in West Bengal.

A chief justice Ranjan Gogoi-led bench refused to entertain an application of some investors in a case the top court had in 2014 disposed of after directing the central agency to probe the scam.

The applicants said the investigation is yet to be concluded despite the top court’s order five years back.

“We are not inclined to set up a monitoring committee for the chit fund scam probe,” said the bench.

In its 2014 verdict, the top court had transferred the probe into the scam to the CBI. A special investigation team that the West Bengal government had set up earlier investigated the case.

The application came a week after CBI officers were detained when they went to question Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar over the scam. The detention prompted the Centre to move the top court last Monday for a direction to Kumar to appear before the central agency for questioning.

Contempt action was also sought against Kumar and the state administration. The court issued contempt notices and asked Kumar to appear before the CBI in Shillong as and when summoned.

Senior advocate Vikas Singh, who appeared for the petitioners, sought permission to approach the Calcutta high court with its plea but the court turned it down.

He drew the court’s attention to its 2014 order in the case. Singh said the court did not consider it necessary to appoint a monitoring committee but left the option open in this regard for the future.

“Your Lordships have not modified this order and as per this order the CBI gets all 500 cases... The SEBI officers have to be investigated but nothing of the sort has been done...some monitoring needs to be undertaken out by this court,” Singh said.