New Delhi, May 25 (TIWN): The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain the petition of former Commissioner of Kolkata Police Rajeev Kumar, who had sought an extension to his protection from arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Saradha chit fund case. Kumar's protection from arrest till a concerned jurisdictional court in West Bengal decides on his anticipatory bail plea ends on today (24 May, Friday).

Dismissing his petition, the vacation bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice MR Shah said that Kumar can approach the Calcutta High Court or a trial court for relief as "they are functional". "There is no vacation there (in courts of West Bengal). Seek appropriate remedy," the Supreme Court said.

The Supreme Court had granted the IPS officer protection from arrest by the CBI in the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam for seven days. Kumar had approached the top court for an extension to his protection from arrest in view of the continuing statewide lawyers' strike in West Bengal that has paralysed work in Kolkata's trial courts and the Calcutta High Court. He had sought to have his protection extended till the lawyers' stir is called off.