Raj Bhavan staff summoned in Bengal governor's sexual harassment inquiry
The Kolkata Police's Special Enquiry Team (SET), led by DC (Central) Indira Mukherjee, has begun an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose. The probe was initiated on Friday following a formal complaint lodged by a female contractual worker at Raj Bhavan. According to India Today, four staff members from Raj Bhavan have now been summoned for questioning in connection to the allegations.
Kolkata Police seeks CCTV footage
The special probe team also sought CCTV footage of the Raj Bhavan from the officer-in-charge of the police outpost within the Governor's House on Saturday. Significantly, under Article 361 of the Indian Constitution, a criminal proceeding against a state's governor cannot be launched in court while he is in office. "That is why the CCTV footage...has been sought, so that it can be analysed and the next course of action can be decided," said a city police officer.
What are the allegations against Bose
A woman employee of the Raj Bhavan has accused Bose of molesting her twice in his chamber since April 24. In her complaint, the woman alleged that "on 24.04.2024...he called me to his office room and, after some discussion, touched me. I somehow managed to leave the office room." "He called me once again today, 02.05.2024. I took my supervisor along with me to the conference room because I was scared," she said in her complaint.
He asked the supervisor to leave, woman claims
After discussing work for a while, he asked the supervisor to leave. He then continued the conversation by discussing my promotion. "He said he will call me at night and asked me not to tell anyone. When I refused, he tried to touch me. I protested and left," she added. DC Mukherjee confirmed that a complaint was forwarded to Hare Street police station and that an inquiry is underway.
Governor Bose refutes allegations, bans police entry
Governor Bose has vehemently denied the sexual harassment allegations made against him. He said that the allegations are part of a plot to tarnish his reputation for political gain. He stated that he would not be "cowed down by engineered narratives." "If anybody wants some election benefits by maligning me, God bless them. But they cannot stop my fight against corruption and violence in Bengal," he added.
