What are the sexual harassment claims against Bengal governor Bose?

The standoff between West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose and the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) is set to deepen. This comes after the party accused the Governor of sexual harassment, a claim which Bose has emphatically denied.

The allegations take Bengal politics to a new level, pitting the Trinamool and the Governor’s office in direct conflict amid the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections across the country.

What do we know of the sexual harassment claim? How has the Governor reacted? What comes next? We explore it all.

Sexual harassment allegations

A woman employee of Raj Bhavan since 2019, who reportedly works in the telephone room and as per a Times of India report lives at the residential quarters at the Governor’s House, has accused Bose of ‘inappropriately touching’ her. The matter came to light when the woman approached the police post located inside the Governor’s House and accused Bose of molesting her.

She was then taken to the local police station at Hare Street where she filed a complaint, in which she alleged that she was molested multiple times by the Governor on the pretext of the job.

In her complaint, she lists two instances of the sexual harassment she endured. The complaint states that “on 19 April, Governor asked me to take some time out and meet him with my CV”.

“On 24 April, around 12.45 pm, 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, on 2 May. I took my supervisor along with me to the conference room because I was scared. After talking for a while about work, he asked the supervisor to leave. He prolonged the conversation by talking about 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.”

The woman, as per a Times of India report, alleged that she felt compelled to break her silence on the matter to protect others from the same ordeal. She is also seen referring to another woman who made similar complaints in the past.

Deputy Commissioner of Central Division, Indira Mukherjee confirmed the complaint, saying: “Around 5 pm, a complaint was lodged at the police outpost. It was forwarded to Hare Street police station. The complaint is against His Excellency the Governor. An inquiry is on.”

TMC slams Governor Bose

The Trinamool Congress, which has been at odds with the Governor for a long period of time, used the allegation as fodder to attack Bose.

The Mamata-led party accused the Governor of tarnishing the sanctity of Raj Bhavan. In a post on X, the party wrote: “Appalling and unthinkable! The sanctity of Raj Bhavan, a symbol of our constitutionality, has been tarnished. Hours before PM Narendra Modi was supposed to arrive at Raj Bhavan to spend the night, a woman was allegedly molested by the Governor under the false pretext of a job,” the party posted on X from its official handle.

The party has also sought that “justice must be delivered swiftly for the victim – no excuses, no delays”.

Senior TMC leader Shashi Panja was quoted as telling NDTV, “We are utterly shocked. The same Governor who reached
Sandeshkhali
talking about women’s rights has now been involved in a rather shameful incident. He has sabotaged the reputation of his post and his chair.”

TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose also called the matter “shocking and horrifying”.

Chandrima Bhattacharya, the state’s Finance Minister, was quoted telling Indian Express, “What is this? The PM will come tonight and stay in Raj Bhawan. At this time, there is an allegation against the Governor for atrocities against a woman… It is a shame.”

Governor rejects allegations

Governor Bose has categorically rejected all allegations made against him, saying the “truth would triumph”.

In a statement, he said: “Truth shall triumph. I refuse to 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.”

Moreover, the Governor banned Bengal’s finance minister, Chandrima Bhattacharya, from entering Raj Bhavan, stating: “For defamation and anti-constitutional media statements against the Governor… Chandrima Bhattacharya has been banned (from) entry into the Raj Bhavan premises of Kolkata, Darjeeling and Barrackpore.”

He further said that he wouldn’t participate in any state function where she would be present.

An Indian Express report further stated that the Governor had blocked the entry of police into Raj Bhavan premises, under the guise of “conducting unauthorised, illegitimate, sham and motivated ‘investigation’ to placate political bosses during elections”.

Governor’s immunity

Interestingly, while a complaint has been registered against Governor Bose, the authorities are yet to register a case against him, owing to the immunity he enjoys as the Governor of the state.

Article 361 of the Constitution states that they (governors) “shall not be answerable to any court for the exercise and performance of the powers and duties of his office or for any act done or purporting to be done by him in the exercise and performance of those powers and duties…”

It further has two sub-clauses — 1) no criminal proceedings whatsoever shall be initiated or continued against the President, or the Governor of a State, in any court during the term of his office. 2) No process for the arrest or imprisonment of the President, or the Governor of a State, shall issue from any court during his term of office.

Hence, officials are now contemplating their future actions and are consulting with legal experts on the matter.