Govt moves petition in HC against CBI's attempts to question police chief

Kolkata: The state government on Monday moved a petition in Calcutta High Court against the CBI's attempts to question Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar at his residence on Sunday evening. The Court has listed the matter for Tuesday.

The petition was filed before Justice Shivakant Prasad of Calcutta High Court, with state Advocate General Kishore Dutta submitting that despite a stay by the High Court on steps regarding notice to state police officials, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) tried to enter Kumar's residence and question him.

He said that CBI's attempt to enter Kumar's official residence at Rawdon Street was in violation of the Court's earlier order, in which the matter had been scheduled to be heard on February 13.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee went on a dharna from Sunday evening, lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, after a massive showdown between Kolkata Police and officials of CBI, over the questioning of Kolkata Police chief Rajeev Kumar.

"There is a total constitutional breakdown. It is my job to protect my officers," Banerjee had said, accusing Modi and Shah of trying to organise a coup in the state.

Banerjee has been staging a dharna at Metro Channel in Esplanade from Sunday night, alleging that the Centre is using the agency for political gains.

Meanwhile, Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi has submitted a report in this regard to the Union Home department regarding the showdown.