Kolkata: The Raj Bhavan "molestation" case's female complainant claimed on Monday that Governor C V Ananda Bose was "threatening" Raj Bhavan employees not to speak up. The woman made her assertions the day after Governor Bose requested in writing that Raj Bhavan employees disregard any correspondence they received regarding the case from the Kolkata Police.
A contractual worker at Raj Bhavan, the woman claimed in a text message to the newspaper, I am telling you one thing more, I have come to know that employees of Raj Bhavan are being threatened by Dr Bose and his OSD so that no one can dare to cooperate in investigation.”
In a letter dated Sunday, Governor Bose instructed the staff at Raj Bhavan to disregard any correspondence from the police on the subject. He also reminded the Raj Bhavan employees that the Constitution prohibits any criminal charges from being brought against the Governor while he is in office, Indian Express reported.
Bose took this action the day after the Kolkata Police established a special team to look into the claims of sexual harassment made against him.
In addition, the complainant questioned the governor's opposition to an investigation given his lack of misconduct.
“He (Bose) is claiming that my complaints are fake and politically motivated. If he believes that I am a liar and politically motivated, why is he hiding behind the shield of (constitutional) immunity? Why not allow an investigation? Why is he so scared?” the woman asked.
Article 361 (2) of the Constitution states that during the President's or a state governor's term in office, no criminal procedures may be brought against them in any court.
The woman accused the West Bengal Governor of molesting her in the Raj Bhavan in a written complaint she submitted to the Kolkata Police on Friday. The governor dismissed the accusations as "absurd drama" and declared that he would not be dissuaded from his "determined efforts to expose corruption and curb violence."
“I have already proposed to sit in front of him to face any test… May it be lie detector or any superior technology. If he is innocent, why is he escaping?” said the woman.
She claimed that her “next course of action would depend on the outcome of the police investigation.”
“I have faith in the administration that they will try their best,” she said. She added, “Yes, I am getting support from the police. I am thankful to them. I have been told that investigation would be done,” she said.
Governor Bose, meanwhile, criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday for bringing up the matter and called her politics "dirty."
Speaking to reporters outside the airport in Kolkata, Bose declared that he would not tolerate Banerjee's "didigiri" (high-handedness), on the "distinguished office of the Governor.”
“Mamata Banerjee’s politics is dirty. Still, I will pray to God to save her… But this is difficult even for God. I will never accept this ‘didigiri’ on the distinguished office of the Governor. That is all I have to say,” Bose said after his return to the city from Kerala.