Woman alleges ‘molestation’ against Bengal Governor; TMC says sanctity of Raj Bhavan tarnished, Bose calls it “engineered narrative”

West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose has been accused of ‘molestation’ and ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by a lady associated with the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata, on Thursday. A complaint has been lodged with the Hare street police station on Thursday evening where the complainant has alleged that the Governor “had put his hand” on her, is when she felt uncomfortable. “You are beautiful”, the woman has alleged in her complaint, the Governor of having said that to her inside the Raj Bhavan. This came hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kolkata on Thursday evening, where he is expected to put up at the Raj Bhavan for the night. PM Modi will hold three election rallies in Bengal on Friday. 

The Governor has denied the allegations and called it an engineered narrative. “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 can not stop my fight against corruption and violence in Bengal”, said the Governor in a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan. 

Trinamool Congress has hit out and slammed the Governor for denigrating the prestige of the Raj Bhavan. “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 job. Such despicable behaviour must be condemned in the strongest terms. Justice must be delivered swiftly for the victim – no excuses, no delays”, the party has stated on their official ‘X’ handle. 

Following the shocking revelation of Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna’s multiple videos of sexual assault of hundreds of women, TMC has upped the ante against PM Modi who before the revelation had campaigned for him and BJP-JD(S) alliance in Karnataka, sought votes. According to reports, BJP central leadership was apprised of Ravanna’s offences and the existence of visual proof, yet the PM campaigned for him. 

“Molestation charges against Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose puts the prestige of the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata at stake. PM ⁦Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata today and stay overnight at the Raj Bhavan. Will Modi ask CV Ananda Bose for an explanation”, asked Sagarika Ghose, TMC Rajya Sabha MP. 

The complainant is a contractual employee, working with the Raj Bhavan ‘Peace Room’, where complaints are received from general people, an initiate undertaken by the Governor last year to address public grievances. The women has alleged that she was called for a meeting on April 24 where Dr CV Ananda Bose had allegedly given “unsolicited and inappropriate proposal”. 

“He had put his hand on me and I had rushed out of the room sensing trouble. Today Governor had called me again. I went along with my supervisor and we met him inside the conference room. But after sometime the supervisor was given some work and he had left. During that time, Governor tried dragging the conversation by proposing a promotion for me. He asked me to call him at night and also asked me not to discuss this with anyone”, the complainant has alleged in her complaint with police, accessed by News The Truth.