Kolkata Police wanted info on our 'investigation plan': CBI officials
New Delhi: The Kolkata Police, which is locked in a bitter tussle with the CBI, wanted information on the "investigation plan" of the agency officials, who were detained for a few hours at a city police station, CBI officials claimed Monday.
Speaking to PTI, a senior CBI official requesting anonymity said the Kolkata Police had also refused to acknowledge the request of the CBI seeking cooperation in carrying out its investigation at the residence of Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar on Sunday.
The Kolkata Police officials kept pressurising the CBI team, which was forcefully taken to the Shakespeare Sarani police station, to reveal "the investigation plan", the official claimed.
"Due to deliberate, forceful, physical obstruction caused by the Kolkata police, the CBI could not complete the proceedings and had to return," the agency official said.
The agency has written thrice seeking presence of Kumar, who was member of the Special Investigation Team of the Kolkata Police probing the chit fund scam, the official said.
The first notice to the Kolkata police commissioner was sent on October 18, 2017 to appear for questioning next day but he cited law and order duties of the ensuing festive season.
The next notice was issued on October 23, 2017 but again he excused from the questioning.
The CBI had sent third notice on December 8, 2018 but he responded saying the queries can be sent to him and he will reply.
Not getting any "positive response" from him, a team of 11 CBI officials along with two independent witnesses and support staff had approached the residence of Kumar at 5.45 pm Sunday where they found the gate closed, another official said.
After that, some of the CBI officers went to the Shakespeare Sarani police station, where they reached at 6 pm to inform the local police about the visit and seeking cooperation for which they sought an acknowledgement, the officials said.
But the officer concerned refused them any acknowledgement, the official said.
Meanwhile, the CBI Deputy SP Tathagat Vardan, who was outside the residence of the police commissioner, inquired from a police personnel guarding a mini door adjacent to the closed main gate, if Kumar was inside.
Upon inquiry, the police personnel took Vardan to a police vehicle on the road and asked him to get inside, the officials said.
When Vardan told him that he cannot be forced like that, he was pushed inside the vehicle and restrained by the police personnel inside in such a way that he could not move, the official said.
Vardan was also taken to the police station where CBI officers had earlier gone to intimate.
Inspite of repeated requests to give acknowledgement, the local police refused to do so, the officials said.
The team then called two of its Superintendent of Police, Partha Mukherjee of Economic Offences -I and Pramod Kumar Manjhi of Anti-Corruption Branch, Bhubaneswar, who was on a tour to Kolkata, to come for their aid.
Both the officers reached the police station and insisted that acknowledgement should be provided and police should help the CBI team to complete its investigation.
Two Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) of Kolkata Police, Muralidhar Sharma and Miraz Khalid, were also approached by the CBI team but they remained "non cooperative", the officials said.
The DCPs asked the CBI to wait for some time and assured that suitable information would be provided after a clearance was taken from superior officers, the officials said.
The officers at the police station asked the CBI to "divulge plan of investigation" else meet dire consequences, the officials claimed.
The ordeal finally got over when the CBI was asked to leave the police station. They reached their Nizam Palace office in the city where they completed the "memorandum" proceedings at 11.55 pm, noting details of the developments of the evening.
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No date fixed yet for leadership change in Karnataka: Cong chief Kharge
Kalaburagi (Karnataka) (PTI): Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday said that no date has been fixed yet to discuss possible leadership change in Karnataka.
His statement came amid intensifying speculation over a power tussle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar.
Addressing a press conference here, Kharge maintained that any decision regarding leadership would be taken collectively by the party's high command after due consultation.
He also cautioned against misinterpretation of his remarks.
"See, we will take a decision together, the three of us: I as the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi as the Congress Parliamentary Party president, and Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. That is why we always act together," he explained.
Kharge further said, "When the three of us fix a date together, we will take a decision. Since no date has been fixed yet, how can I say whether a change is happening or not?"
He asserted that the Congress leadership follows a consultative process before arriving at any conclusion.
"In the high command, we have extensive discussions among ourselves and also consult other senior leaders. We consider what the outcome would be and then take steps accordingly," the Congress chief said.
Stressing that no timeline had been finalised, he said, "When it happens, I will definitely inform you. Please do not misinterpret this."
He noted that he often avoids commenting publicly to prevent misrepresentation.
Emphasising party discipline, Kharge said any eventual decision would be binding on all.
"Whatever decision is taken, it will be in the interest of the state, and everyone will have to support whatever decision the high command takes," he said.
On Thursday, Kharge said there was no change of CM in Karnataka "for now" and that the leadership issue in the state would be resolved soon.
The remarks come amid ongoing speculation over an alleged understanding for a power transfer to Shivakumar when the Congress government completes its halfway mark in November 2025.
While Siddaramaiah has asserted that he intends to complete a full five-year term, he has also said he would abide by any decision taken by the party leadership.
Recently, Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh's Delhi visit triggered speculation of a leadership change. His supporters are also charged up.
