West Bengal Governor reacts to molestation allegations; says 'no inquiry can be conducted'
West Bengal Governor reacts to molestation allegations; says 'no inquiry can be conducted'
West Bengal Governor CV Anand Bose on Sunday (May 5) reacting to the molestation allegations levelled against him stated that no inquiry could be conducted against a Governor during their term in office.
He took to his official X account and in a detailed post said, “No criminal proceedings whatsoever shall be instituted or continued against the President, or the Governor of a State, in any court during his term of office and 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.”
“It is clear that the State machinery cannot set in motion any sort of criminal proceedings, whatsoever, against the Governor,” he said.
He then urged the Raj Bhavan staff to ignore any sort of communication with the police regarding the matter and refrain from giving any statement.
He said that Article 361(2) and (3) of the Constitution of India ensures protection for the President, Governors and Rajpramukhs.
“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,” Bose said.
“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 Article 361 of the Constitution of India. Thus, given 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.
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Sexual allegations against Bose
One of the women employees at the Raj Bhavan on Thursday (May 2) alleged that she was sexually harassed by the West Bengal governor.
West Bengal Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya stated that a woman had lodged a complaint against the governor accusing him of molestation ahead of PM Modi’s visit to the state.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi is arriving in Bengal. His stay has been arranged at the Raj Bhavan. Before this, a woman has gone to the police station to file a complaint against the Governor accusing him of molestation,” Bhattacharya said.
“What kind of incident is this, when the Governor says that he will create a ‘peace room’ and listen to everyone’s problems, but here the same Governor is insulting women,” she added.
Responding to the allegations, the West Bengal Governor released a statement saying that he will not be oppressed by “engineered narratives” and the “truth shall triumph” after TMC leaders said that a woman employed at Raj Bhavan accused Bose of molestation.
“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,” the Governor said.
(With inputs from agencies)