The Calcutta High Court has nullified an FIR filed by the West Bengal Police’s CID against the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a coal-smuggling case. The FIR, dating back to 2002, was lodged at the Bishnupur Police station in the South 24 Parganas district. It involved senior CBI officer Umesh Kumar.
In May 2022, the CBI’s investigative team, led by Umesh Kumar, visited Bishnupur as part of the coal smuggling case probe in West Bengal. The investigation saw the involvement of local Trinamool Congress leader Haibar Akhan, leading to the FIR being filed based on his complaint and subsequently handed over to the CID.
The CBI officials faced charges under 13 sections of the Indian Penal Code, prompting the agency to seek the FIR’s dismissal. Following a lengthy legal process spanning nearly three years, Justice Uday Kumar of the Calcutta High Court ruled in favor of quashing the FIR against the CBI officials, including Umesh Kumar.
Umesh Kumar, the chief investigating officer in the coal smuggling case, oversaw the interrogation of key figures and suspects, including Anup Maji alias Lala and ECL officials. He played a pivotal role in framing charges and supervising the case’s progress at a special CBI court in Asansol.
