West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee ends dharna in Kolkata

The Supreme Court in its order on the CBI-West Bengal government standoff  said that Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar can be quizzed in a neuteral place in Meghalaya but cannot be subjected to any coercive action like arrest.

Banerjee had started the sit-in protest on Sunday in Kolkata and several opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, had extended their support to the TMC supremo.

Lambasting PM Narienda Modi in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, she ended her dharna and said:  "I am withdrawing this dharna for now. But our fight will continue till Modi is removed from power."

Amid cheering crowd, Banerjee said: "We will now do a program in Delhi. We will continue the fight unless Modi is removed."

Mamata Banerjee thanked all opposition parties who extended support to her dharna.

Naidu praised Mamata and said she is doing extraordinary sacrifice for the nation.

"We appreciate Mamata Banerjee for her extraordinary sacrifice.No leader can do it. The entire country saw what happened in West Bengal," Naidu said.

Earlier this morning, the the Supreme Court ordered Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar to appear before the CBI in the Sarada chit fund scam case, media reports said.

The court said no coercive action would be taken against Kumar.

To Attorney General KK Venugopal's plea before the apex court the Chief Justice of India said: "We will direct the Police Commissioner to make himself available and fully cooperate."

"Going by your prayers, we don't think there should be any problem in asking Rajeev Kumar to make available himself before CBI," the CJI said according to media reports.

The central investigating agency on Monday moved the Supreme Court against the state government over its "non-cooperation".

The Supreme Court has asked the probe agency to produce evidence proving Kumar's alleged attempt to tamper evidence in the chit fund scams.

Demanding evidence, the top court said as quoted in media: "If Kolkata Police Commissioner even remotely thinks of destroying evidence, bring the material before this Court. We will come down so heavily on him that he will regret."