After Rajeev Kumar skipped the summons on Monday, a team of CBI went to the office of Kolkata CID where Rajeev Kumar has been positioned as the Additional Directorate General. The agency remained tight-lipped on why it went to the office of Rajeev Kumar but clarified that no new summons has been issued against him.

 

Sources told India Today that the agency is mulling the options of issuing a fresh summons or an arrest warrant against Rajeev Kumar.

 

A senior CBI officer, familiar with the developments of the case, on the request of anonymity, told India Today that, "no person in this country is above law. Rajeev Kumar is a senior officer and he should respect the apex court of the country. We will soon decide the next course of action."

 

CBI sources also told India Today that the agency in the meanwhile is also recording statements of witnesses in connection with the case.

 

Rajeev Kumar failed to appear for questioning on Monday in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam.

 

The CBI has also summoned West Bengal police officials Arnab Ghosh and Dilip Hazara to appear before the agency in Kolkata on Wednesday) in connection with the Saradha scam.

 

Rajeev Kumar, who is believed to be in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh had informed the CBI that he is on six-day leave and won't be able to join the investigation.

 

"We have received a written reply through two officers of Kolkata Police. We will decide next course of action very soon," a CBI officer told India Today on Monday.

 

The CBI maintains that they want custodial interrogation of Rajeev Kumar which means that there is a high possibility that if he joins the investigation, the agency may place him under arrest.

 

Meanwhile, the CBI issued a look-out circular (LOC) against Rajeev Kumar.

India Today TV has learnt that the look-out circular was issued on May 23 and all the airports and international border security agencies have been asked to stop Rajeev Kumar if he tries to leave the country.

 

A look-out circular is a letter used by authorities to check whether a travelling person is wanted by the police. It may be used at immigration checkpoints at international borders like international airports or seaports.

 

Earlier, the Supreme Court had vacated its order granting protection to Rajeev Kumar from arrest for his involvement in the Ponzi scheme called Saradha chit fund. Now, the Supreme Court has allowed the CBI to "act in accordance with law" on the matter of the custodial interrogation of Rajeev Kumar.

 

Amidst the controversy, the West Bengal government has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to relieve Rajeev Kumar of his duties with the ministry. Sources said that the state government wrote to the ministry on Monday.

 

The Election Commission had shunted out Rajeev Kumar from the post of ADG CID giving him a central deputation with MHA. However, even before MHA would release him officially, Mamata Banerjee issued an order reinstating him as ADG CID on Sunday.