Despite receiving a written complaint from a woman staffer of the Raj Bhavan accusing West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose of 'outraging her modesty', the Kolkata Police seem to be in a fix as to what should the next course of action in the matter.
According to legal experts, the Governor and the President of India, as constitutional heads of the state and the country, respectively, have immunity against any legal proceedings under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
City police sources said they are consulting their legal brains to decide on the next course of action.
In a startling development on Thursday afternoon, a temporary female staff at the Raj Bhavan filed a written complaint with the police accusing Governor Bose of outraging her modesty.
Police sources said the woman, reportedly attached to the Peace Room in the Raj Bhavan, approached the officer-in-charge of the police outpost located inside the Governor's House and accused Ananda Bose of molesting her on the pretext of providing her a permanent job. Later, she submitted a written complaint at the Hare Street police station, under which the Raj Bhavan falls.
According to Article 361 of the Constitution, a criminal proceeding cannot be instituted in a court against the Governor during his term of office.
Reacting to the development, state minister and senior Trinamool Congress leader Chandrima Bhattacharya said, “I wonder what is happening in the Raj Bhavan, and that too on a day when the Prime Minister is coming to the state."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to reach Kolkata on Thursday night and stay at the Raj Bhavan. He will address three election rallies in the state on Friday.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Rajya Sabha member Saharika Ghose posted on X: “Molestation charges against Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose put the prestige of the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata at stake. PM@narendramodi is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata today and stay overnight at Raj Bhavan. Will Modi ask CV Ananda Bose for an explanation?”
However, senior BJP leader Tathagata Roy, who had been the Governor of Tripura and Meghalaya, came out in the Bengal Governor's defence, saying: “Generally, such accusations of outrage of modesty are raised against anyone who has some past records in the matter.
"When I was the Governor of Meghalaya, he (Ananda Bose) was posted as a senior bureaucrat there. In due course, he worked in several important positions as a senior bureaucrat. There has been no such complaint against him in the past."
Ten TN fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy, mechanised boat seized
Ten Indian fishermen from Karaikkal in Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in the early hours of Thursday. The mechanised boat they were fishing in was also seized.
The Indian story is one of hope: Delegates at 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention on Thursday at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar is witnessing a big turnout, with delegates from all over the world eager to hear Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Many attendees have expressed their admiration for his leadership and vision of a Viksit Bharat.
CYKA conducted 15th State Level SAKUNGPHAI FESTIVAL 2025
The Central Young Kaipeng Association (CYKA) has organized The 15th State Level Sakungphai Festival 2025 here in Sarum Branch, Jampuijala YKA sub headquarters under Sepahijala district.
NFR speeds up essential and non-essential goods to NE states: Official
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has stepped up the supply of essentials, food grains, fertiliser, transport fuel, coal and other items to the mountainous northeastern states, including the trouble-torn Manipur, officials said here on Wednesday.
MHA approves Tripura's official emblem: CM Saha
Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), responding to the Tripura government’s request, has approved the official emblem for the state government, Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Wednesday
Cataract surgery camp organized at GBP, 13 patients receive successful treatment
Agartala Government Medical College and GBP Hospital continue to serve the community with dedicated healthcare initiatives. In a special cataract surgery camp organized under the supervision of the ophthalmology department, 13 patients, including seven males and six females, underwent successful surgeries.
BJP Janjati Morcha slams CPIM’s tribal wing
The Janjati Morcha, the tribal wing of Tripura’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has strongly criticized the Gana Mukti Parishad (GMP), the tribal wing of the opposition CPI(M), for accusing the government of neglecting indigenous communities. The BJP leaders dismissed the allegations as baseless and labeled GMP’s planned Raj Bhawan Abhiyan on January 9 as a futile exercise.
'Has endeared himself to people of Tripura', PM Modi extends birthday wishes to CM Manik Saha
Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on his birthday, saying that the leader has endeared himself to the state's people with his humble and hardworking nature.