Deposit case: CBI told to move HC

TT, New Delhi/Calcutta: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the CBI to approach Calcutta High Court with its complaints that Bengal police were not cooperating with it in the ongoing probe into default scams in the state.

The country's top court also iterated its direction on December 15, 2017, restraining the Bengal government from calling for questioning CBI officials investigating the deposit scams.

A bench of Justices Arun Misra and Abdu Nazeer passed the direction on Monday while dealing with an earlier application filed by the CBI alleging non-cooperation and harassment of its officials by the Bengal cops.

When the matter came up for hearing on Monday, the CBI's special public prosecutor, K. Raghavacharyulu, said the police were not giving various documents and other case materials to the central agency despite repeated requests.

Justice Misra, who headed the bench, said the CBI should approach Calcutta High Court for appropriate directions instead of coming to the Supreme Court on such issues.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for the state government, denied the allegations of non-cooperation by the police.

He said the police were only seeking certain clarifications on the nature of material being sought by the CBI.

The allegations of non-cooperation had emerged against the police last year.

"Today's (Monday's) order would mean allegations against state police would now be heard in the high court. But at the same time, the central agency will enjoy immunity from being summoned by any state agency," summed up a senior lawyer not attached with the case.