Ex Kolkata Police Chief Rajeev Kumar appointed as Principal Secretary in West Bengal

Ex Kolkata Police Chief Rajeev Kumar appointed as Principal Secretary in West Bengal
Question: Who has been appointed as the Principal Secretary in West Bengal on December 26 2019?
(a) Rajeev Kumar
(b) Debasish Sen
(c) Arun Bhattacharya
(d) None of These
Answer: (a)
Related facts:
  • On 26 December 20199, former Kolkata Police commissioner Rajeev Kumar was appointed as Principal Secretary in the Information, Technology and Electronics Department.
  • He will replace IAS officer Debasish Sen on this post.
  • He was holding Additional DG of state CID.

Why in news?

  • The appointment attracts significance as the IPS officer has been involved in a legal tussle with the Central Bureau of Investigation since February this year when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a dharna when the agency tried to question Mr. Kumar in connection with the Saradha scam.
  • The main allegation against Rajeev Kumar is that he suppressed and destroyed key evidence in the investigation of the Saradha scam while heading the Special Investigating Team (SIT) set up by the State government to probe the crime. 
  • The Saradha  group of companies has allegedly duped lakhs of people to the tune of 2,500 crore rupees promising higher rates of returns on their investments. The Saradha scam surfaced in 2013.

Links:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/west-bengal-govt-appoints-ips-officer-rajeev-kumar-as-it-secretary/article30409762.ece

https://frontline.thehindu.com/dispatches/article29596436.ece

http://newsonair.com/Main-News-Details.aspx?id=371508