Rajnath calls Home Secretary, CBI Chief over Matang Sinh arrest row

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today summoned Home Secretary Anil Goswami in connection with reports that a top Ministry official had allegedly made attempts to stall arrest of Congress leader Matang Sinh by CBI in connection with the Saradha scam.

The Home Minister called Goswami soon after he came to office this morning. They discussed the issue for nearly an hour.

It is believed that he might have been asked about attempts by a senior ministry official on Saturday when the CBI decided to place Sinh, a former Union Minister of State for Home, under arrest.

After the meeting, Goswami refused to take any questions from the media.

This meeting was immediately followed by Singh calling CBI Director Anil Sinha, who apparently briefed the Minister about the sequence of events that unfolded ahead Sinh's arrest.

Sinha also refused to take any questions from the waiting media outside the office of the Home Minister. The Director held a separate meeting with Goswami.

The CBI is believed to have sent a report to the Prime Minister's Office in this regard, sources in the agency said.

The Home Minister was briefed by officials about reports suggesting that a top ministry official had allegedly attempted to stop the arrest of Sinh who was picked up by CBI in Kolkata on Saturday.