Calcutta:
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has issued a directive to all staff of Raj Bhavan in Calcutta, directing them to ignore any communication from the state police regarding the recent sexual harassment complaint filed against him by a casual employee.
The directive, officially shared by Raj Bhavan, expressly prohibits any staff member, permanently or temporarily, from making any statements regarding the ongoing investigation online, offline, in person, over the phone or in any other manner.
The move follows the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) by the Kolkata Police to probe the allegations against the Governor, including the SIT's request for CCTV footage of the Raj Bhavan building.
In his notification, Governor Bose cited Article 361(2) and (3) of the Constitution, which grants immunity to governors from any investigation or legal proceedings during their tenure by the state police.
However, the Kolkata Police is undeterred and is actively looking for clues in the case. The SIT has reportedly tried to speak to witnesses and obtain evidence relevant to the complaint.
The allegations surfaced ahead of a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prime Minister Modi is in Calcutta and is spending the night at the Raj Bhavan.
Police sources said this afternoon that a woman claiming to be a casual staff member attached to the Peace Chamber at the Raj Bhavan had approached the police post at the Governor's House and accused Mr Bose of abusing her.
The governor, who has vehemently denied the allegations since they arose, recently released an audio message claiming there were political motives behind the controversy. He warned Raj Bhavan staff to remain vigilant against potential infiltrators with malicious intentions.