Calcutta High Court on Friday slapped a fine of Rs 50 lakh on the CID for failing to carry out the court's order to hand over to the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) documents related to the state agency's probe into alleged misappropriation of Rs 50 crore at a cooperative society in Alipurduar district.

Around 4,000 depositors had contributed money to the society when it was formed.

Allegations cropped up in 2020 that those who were at the helm of the society had siphoned off funds. A section of the depositors filed a complaint with police and an investigation was initiated. Later, the case was handed over to the CID.

The complainants were, however, dissatisfied with the probe and filed a petition in the high court seeking a CBI investigation.

On August 24, Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay heard the case and said the probe would be conducted by the CBI and the ED. The court also instructed the CID to hand over all documents related to the case to the two central agencies.

When the case came up for hearing before Justice Gangopadhyay again on Friday, counsels of the CBI and the ED said the CID had not carried out the court’s directive and the documents relating to the case had not been handed over to the agencies.

The judge then slapped a fine of Rs 50 lakh on the CID for failing to comply with the court’s order.

Justice Gangopadhyay asked the CID to hand over the documents within three days to both the central agencies. The fine has to be deposited with the registrar general of the high court within two weeks, he ordered.