Kolkata: At least eight senior IPS officers in West Bengal are facing the heat of the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) for their alleged involvement in Ponzi scheme, cattle and coal smuggling cases.
The CBI had last month sought to question senior IPS officer and former Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar, who is now Bengal’s Principal Secretary, IT, in connection with chit fund cases. The central probe agency had approached the Supreme Court seeking his custodial interrogation.
State Security Advisor and former DGP Surajit Kar Purakayastha, and DIG-ranked officer Arnab Ghosh, are under CBI and ED scanner for Ponzi scheme cases, while SP-ranked officer Angshuman Saha and IG-ranked officer Kollol Ghonai have been issued summons by CBI on 3 January in the cattle smuggling case.
Another SP-ranked officer Tathagata Basu was also issued summons by CBI the same day in the coal smuggling case.
Saha, Ghonai and Basu were asked to appear before the probe agency in the third week of this month, said a senior CBI official.
But on 10 January, Saha and Ghonai moved Calcutta High Court challenging the CBI summons served on them.
CBI sources told ThePrint two more senior officers of DIG-ranks are under scanner in connection with the cattle and coal smuggling cases.
The anti-corruption bureau of the CBI registered a nine-page FIR in the cattle smuggling case on 21 September 2020 and an eight-page FIR in the coal smuggling case on 21 November 2020. ThePrint has accessed copies of the FIRs that mentioned the alleged role of multiple state and central government officers in the scam.
Besides the central probe agencies, Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar has also upped his ante against some IPS officers, including former DGP Purakayastha and ADG, Law and Order, Gyanwant Singh.
On 21 December, the governor wrote to the state’s home secretary seeking details of the inquiry, as ordered by the Calcutta High Court, in an old case of “invading right to life without the authority of law”.
ACS @HomeBengal directed to make available the entire file relating to the enquiry of Shri Gyanwant Singh IPS, ADG (Law & Order) @MamataOfficial & promotions effected in his favour after charge sheet was issued to him in view of the findings of the Hon’ble Calcutta High Court. pic.twitter.com/8cC9ILKcTu
— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) December 21, 2020
Questions have been raised over CBI action against IPS officers in the state despite the West Bengal government having withdrawn its ‘general consent’ to the agency in 2018.
The CBI, however, said cattle and coal smuggling cases are not state matters and that both cases come under their jurisdiction.
A section of IPS officers in the state has, however, questioned the timing of the CBI’s actions just 5-6 months before the assembly elections.
Meanwhile, the BJP has called the CBI summons the beginning of the “fight for justice”, while the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) said the CBI has “become a tool to intimidate” police officers in the state.
Also read: Is CBI overstepping in West Bengal or Mamata Banerjee politicising due process?
CBI’s jurisdiction & timing of its actions
A section of senior IPS officers has questioned the CBI action, saying that its timing is a “bit intriguing” as Bengal elections are just a few months away.
“Cattle and coal smuggling incidents are nothing new in West Bengal. No central agency bothered to investigate it ever. Why do they need to open new cases just five-six months before an election? We cannot deny the crime or the scope of investigation, but the timing of such cases are a bit intriguing, though,” said a senior IPS officer, who didn’t want to be named.
Commenting on the chances of punishment of the IPS officers concerned, a second senior IPS officer said, “As the investigation is going, nothing can immediately be done against the officers.
“They can be summoned and grilled. But the CBI or ED will need solid evidence, probably cash transaction details, to prove connivance, if any.”
A senior advocate, who fights cases for the state government, said the CBI “cannot take up cases related to West Bengal’s internal matters”.
“Coal and cattle smuggling are such cases in which they are probing the public servants. They cannot investigate officers of Bengal cadres without the direction of the state or court.
“The state government withdrew the ‘general consent’ for CBI in 2018. So these cases will not stand in the court once the government decides to move the court. And the government will do that soon,” said the advocate, who did not want to be quoted.
Withdrawal of the general consent makes it compulsory for the CBI to take the state government’s permission to enter its jurisdiction for the purposes of investigation.
The CBI, however, said they don’t need the state government’s consent to probe cattle and coal smuggling cases.
“Cattle smuggling cases are related to national security. It is a border crime. We do not need the state’s consent to probe this. Coal smuggling is also not a state matter now, it is an inter-state smuggling racket. So, both the cases come under our jurisdiction of anti-corruption,” said a senior CBI officer.
Also read: CBI raids Trinamool youth leader’s properties in cattle smuggling case, issues lookout notice
TMC-BJP trade barbs
The TMC reiterated its stand over CBI summons against IPS officers in the state, saying it’s vendetta politics as the agency is “harassing and intimidating senior police officers” just before the elections.
“We are not bothered about such cases. The CBI could not close any such cases as of now. They want to harass and intimidate the senior police officers. Lodging cases five to six months before election indicates political vendetta. CBI has become a tool to intimidate. We have faith in the justice system. Law will take its own course,” said Trinamool MP Sougata Roy.
But the BJP claimed that the “fight for justice” has begun.
“Modi ji does not spare anyone and people know that. If the officers are not corrupt, they do not need to worry about facing investigation. Why are they moving course to evade investigation? People know how Mamata Banerjee runs the show,” said BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya.
Political analyst prof Samir Das said, “The timing of the cases is significant. But we have to see how the nexus between politician and police runs. It is deep-rooted and almost a national phenomenon. The officers change colour with change in government. And I am sure if the BJP succeeds in forming a government in the state, all these accused officers will join the saffron camp in no time. It applies to the CBI too.”
Also read: Paintings by Mamata sold to ‘promoters of ponzi companies’ — CBI tells SC in petition
No wonder in zinfia, people never respect the police as they know the police can be bought. The IPS officers are educated people and it is a shame they have brought themselves to the level of thieves and lafangas.
The culture of corruption runs deep in all political parties.