CBI West Bengal row highlights: Mamata ends dharna, asks Modi to resign

SC orders Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar to make himself available before the CBI and faithfully cooperate with the investigations into the ponzi scams at all times

Mamata vs CBI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Sarada chit fund scam case and Rose Valley ponzi scheme. The apex court said that Kumar cannot be arrested and that no coercive action will be taken against him. 

The court will take up the issue on February 20. Rajeev Kumar will appear before CBI in Shillong, Meghalaya, as a neutral place.

Mamata Banerjee claimed ‘moral victory’ after SC barred CBI from arresting Kumar. 

ALSO READ: SC to hear CBI's plea on Tuesday; here's how the drama unfolded in Kolkata
 

Hours after the apex court's directive, Banerjee ended her sit-in protest -- "Save India, Save Democracy" -- which started after a showdown between the CBI and Kolkata Police on Sunday evening and had entered its third day on Tuesday. 

9:28 PM

Modi hatao, desh bachao: Mamata

Mamata Banerjee said she was ending the protest following a "favourable" Supreme Court order after consulting leaders of like-minded political parties. "I will not give up.... Modi hatao, desh bachao (oust Modi, save the country). The dharna is a victory of the people, of the country, of democracy. I will now take the fight to Delhi," she told a gathering of her supporters with TDP supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu by her side. (Read more here)   

 

 

9:27 PM

It is worse than Emergency: Chandrababu Naidu

Asserting that Opposition parties will take the fight against the Modi government to a "logical conclusion", Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said their leaders will meet in the national capital on February 13-14 to chalk out an agitational programme. "Democracy is in danger. Everybody is under threat. If anybody raises his voice, you throw them in jail. Is it Emergency? It is worse than Emergency," he said.

 

Naidu said he, as a representative of 23 Opposition parties, and Banerjee spoke to NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, his Samajwadi Party counterpart Akhilesh Yadav, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal, DMK chief M K Stalin and former Union minister Sharad Yadav, and all favoured immediately calling off the dharna. "But the fight will not end here. We will fight in Delhi. We will take it to a logical conclusion," Naidu declared. (Read more here)  

 

 

6:35 PM

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6:32 PM

Mamata ends dharna

5:25 PM

Congress MP breaks party line, calls police commissioner 'Mamata's servant'

5:13 PM

Centre asks Bengal govt to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Kolkata Police chief

The Centre on Tuesday asked the West Bengal government to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar for indiscipline and violation of service rules.

 

The Union Home Ministry, which is the cadre controlling authority of the Indian Police Service officers in the country, has asked the West Bengal Chief Secretary to initiate the process.

 

In a communication on Tuesday, the Home Ministry said that as per information received by it, Kumar sat in a dharna along with some police officers with Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee which is prima facie in contravention of the extant provisions of the All India Services (Conduct) rules, 1968, and All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969.

5:06 PM

Nothing more shameful for democracy than a CM sitting on dharna: Yogi

5:03 PM

Chandrababu Naidu meets Mamata Banerjee

4:38 PM

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4:27 PM

Jaitley slams opposition for backing Mamata, calls them 'Kleptocrat's Club'

Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday slammed opposition parties backing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's ongoing sit-in protest against the Centre and called them the "Kleptocrat's Club" that "aspires to capture the reigns of India".

 

In a blog, Jaitley hit out at Banerjee, dubbing her act as a "disproportionate over reaction" aimed at projecting herself as a "nucleus" of opposition parties.

 

"Mamata Banerjee's disproportionate over-reaction to the CBI wanting to interrogate the Kolkata Police chief has flagged several issues for a public discourse. The most important being that a Kleptocrat's Club now aspires to capture the reigns of India," he said. 

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4:18 PM

Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu arrives in Kolkata

4:16 PM