RAJ BHAVAN STAFF MEMBERS SUMMONED IN COMPLAINT AGAINST BENGAL GOVERNOR: SOURCES

The Special Enquiry Team (SET) of Kolkata Police on Saturday summoned four staff members of Raj Bhavan in connection with the sexual harassment allegations against West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, sources told India Today TV.

The enquiry team has been constituted to investigate a female contractual employee's allegations against the Governor.

The SET, headed by DC (Central) Indira Mukherjee, started its investigation into the matter on Friday and will also speak to the witnesses over the next few days. The team has also asked Raj Bhavan to share the CCTV footage. 

"We have formed an inquiry team which will be speaking to some probable witnesses over the next few days in this matter. We have also requested Raj Bhavan to share the CCTV footage, in case it is available," news agency PTI quoted an official as saying.

The female contractual employee filed a written complaint with the Kolkata Police, accusing the Bengal Governor of sexual harassment within the premises of Raj Bhavan.

However, police cannot initiate criminal proceedings against the Governor as he has Constitutional immunity. 

Under Article 361 (2) of the Constitution, no criminal proceedings can be instituted against a governor during his term in office.

"No criminal proceedings whatsoever shall be instituted or continued against the President, or the Governor of a State, in any court during his term of office," the Article states. 

Meanwhile, the Bengal Governor, who has refuted the allegations, has ordered a ban on the entry of cops to Raj Bhavan "in the guise of conducting unauthorised, illegitimate, sham and motivated investigations to placate political bosses during the election".

Bose had also said he expected more such allegations to surface, but that would not deter him from his "determined efforts to expose corruption and curb violence" in the state.

"I welcome all the generous allegations and the frequent innuendoes passed on me by some political forces. I understand, my friends, there is more in the offing. But one thing is clear, none of the absurd dramas is going to deter me from my determined efforts to expose corruption and curb violence," he said in a recorded statement released by Raj Bhavan.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also lashed out at Bose for his alleged misconduct with the woman employee.

"Yesterday, a young woman who worked at Raj Bhavan came out and spoke against the governor's harassment. The woman cried and walked out saying she was too scared to work at Raj Bhavan anymore. She said that she was called at odd hours and was subjected to harassment. And these are the people who talk about the dignity of our mothers and sisters?" Banerjee said.

2024-05-04T12:24:43Z dg43tfdfdgfd