Governor bars entry of police, Bengal’s Finance Minister in Raj Bhavan
The action was taken just hours after a temporary female employee at Raj Bhavan accused the Governor of insulting her modesty in a written complaint that she filed with the police
West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose issued an order on Thursday night forbidding the admission of the police and Minister of State for Finance, Chandrima Bhattacharya, inside the Raj Bhavan.
The move occurred hours after a temporary female official at the Raj Bhavan submitted a formal complaint with the police accusing the of outraging her modesty.
“For defamation and anti-constitutional media statements against C.V. Ananda Bose, a junior gubernatorial appointee Chandrima Bhattacharya, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Department of Finance, has been banned entry into the Raj Bhavan premises in Kolkata, Darjeeling, and Barrackpore,” read a statement issued by the Governor’s office.
When the Governor was accused of molestation, Ms. Bhattacharya was the first to respond.
“I wonder what is happening in the Raj Bhavan, and that too on a day when the Prime Minister is coming to the state,” remarked Ms Bhattacharya.
The Raj Bhavan announcement further stated that the Governor will not be attending any events that the Minister would be attending.
Police cannot now enter the Raj Bhavan grounds, according to the governor.
“The Attorney General of India has been contacted for advice on further legal steps against the Minister. The Hon’ble Governor also banned the entry of police into the Raj Bhavan premises in the guise of conducting unauthorised, illegitimate, sham and motivated investigation to placate political bosses during elections,” the statement read.
The governor refuted the molestation accusation in a previous statement released on Thursday night, referring to it as an attempt to obtain political advantages.
“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,” it read.
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