In a letter to Raj Bhavan employees on Sunday, Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose requested that they disregard any correspondence from the police on the molestation allegations made against him. Additionally, he informed the Raj Bhavan employees that no criminal case could be brought against a governor while they were in office.
The action was taken the day after the Kolkata Police established a special inquiry squad (SET) to look into the claims of sexual harassment made by a contract worker at the Raj Bhavan against Bose.
According to sources within the Kolkata Police, investigations into the incident have begun by the special squad under the direction of Deputy Commissioner (Central) Indira Mukherjee. There are eight senior police officers in the special team.
The female employee claimed that the West Bengal Governor had molested her in the Raj Bhavan in a written complaint that she had filed with the Kolkata Police on Friday. At that point, the governor called the accusations “absurd drama” and declared that nothing would stop him from continuing his “determined efforts to expose corruption and curb violence.”
“The reports from the media indicate that the police propose to conduct an inquiry into the incident and that they would be examining the staff of the Raj Bhavan. It is also reported that the investigating team intends to collect the CCTV footage from Raj Bhavan. The question that arises is as to whether the police can conduct an inquiry and collect evidence in view of the immunity enjoyed by the Governor under Art.361(2) and (3) of the Constitution of India,” Governor Bose wrote.
“Since the Governor has been granted constitutional immunity from any criminal proceedings being instituted or continued against him, it logically follows that the police cannot investigate/inquire into the matter in any manner whatsoever. To say that the inquiry/investigation of the police could continue even during the tenure of the Governor though no court can take cognisance of the final report, would be in derogation of the objective and essence of Art.361 of the Constitution of India. Thus, in view of the immunity enjoyed by the Governor, the police are constitutionally barred from carrying out any kind of preliminary inquiry, registering a First Information Report,” he added.
“In the circumstances, all staff/ employees including part-time, temporary, DRW (Daily Rated Workers) or those engaged in Raj Bhavan in any manner are hereby directed to ignore any communication from the police in this respect and refrain from giving any statement online, offline, in person, over phone or in any other manner.”
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West Bengal Governor Ananda Bose writes to Raj Bhawan staff, denies molestation charges
