BREAKING: CBI officials whisked away by Kolkata Police as they tried to enter city police chief house

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, meanwhile, reached the residence of the police commissioner, said reports. She is likely to brief the media later.

Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government of following a 'political vendetta', Mamata Banerjee on Sunday extended her support to Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar who has been reportedly summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over probes into the Rose Valley and Saradha corruptions scams.

The tweet of the CM preceded a CBI activity in Kolkata's Park Street and Shakespeare Sarani police station areas and a press conference by the Kolkata Police slamming reports that the city police chief is "absconding". Latest reports said the CBI had reached the house of the commissioner but denied entry and whisked away.  

Mamata also said the top cop had been attending office and had taken leave only for a day. She also apologised to the Election Commission, which asked the government why the Kolkata police chief was not present for a meeting  last week.

Kumar, who is reportedly facing imminent arrest according to some media reports, is considered to be close to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

Banerjee even described Kumar as the 'best' in the world.

"The highest levels of the BJP leadership are doing the worst kind of political vendetta. Not only are political parties their targets, they are misusing power to take control of the police and destroy all institutions. We condemn this," Mamata Banerjee tweeted.

"The Kolkata Police Commissioner is among the best in the world. His integrity, bravery and honesty are unquestioned. He is working 24x7, and was on leave for only one day recently. When you spread lies, the lies will always remain lies," she said.

Kumar was wanted for questioning in connection with investigations into several ponzi scams.

Over the last two years he had received several summons for questioning, CBI sources told NDTV.

He had headed the special investigation team investigating into the Saradha and Rose Valley scams.

As per media reports, Kumar has been accused of tampering with evidence to save several influential people in the state.

Amid media reports that Kumar has not been attending his office for the past three days and has gone missing, the Kolkata Police rubbished the reports and said in a statement: "Kolkata Police condemns and denies such baseless news. Please take note that not only is the CP Kolkata available in the city, but has also been attending office on a regular basis, with the exception of 31.1.19, when he was on leave for a day."

Kolkata Police Additional Commissioner of Kolkata Police Javed Shamim called a press conference to say the reports of Rajeev Kumar absconding are fake news and legal action would be taken against publications of the news.  Kumar reportedly even did not attend a meeting with the Election Commission last week.

Shrikant Mohta Arrest:

The CBI has arrested one of the founder-directors of Kolkata-based media and entertainment company- SVF Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (formerly Shree Venkatesh Films), Shrikant Mohta, who claims to be close to the TMC chief, in connection with its ongoing probe into Rose Valley chit fund scam last month.