Bengal police set up team to probe rape allegation against Guv
The probe team is set to speak to witnesses and has also requested the Raj Bhavan to make CCTV footage available to investigators
A day after a temporary woman employee working at the Raj Bhavan alleged Governor CV Ananda Bose molested her, Kolkata Police constituted an inquiry team to probe the allegation against the Governor.
The team as part of its investigation will speak to witnesses over the next few days and has requested the Raj Bhavan to share the CCTV footage, a senior officer said on Saturday (May 4).
Under Article 361 of the Constitution, no criminal proceedings can be instituted against a Governor during his term in office.
"We have formed an inquiry team which will be speaking to some probable witnesses over the next few days in this matter. We have also requested the Raj Bhavan to share the CCTV footage, in case they are available," the officer said.
When asked how the police could initiate a probe despite Constitutional immunity to the Governor, another senior police officer said that it's a regular practice to start an investigation after getting any complaint, especially from a woman. "We have to investigate any complaint lodged by anybody. This is a regular practice and we are just following that. And if needed, we may visit the spot (Raj Bhavan)," he said.
A contractual woman employee of the Raj Bhavan on Friday (May 3) lodged a written complaint with the Kolkata Police alleging sexual molestation by the West Bengal Governor in the Raj Bhavan.
The Raj Bhavan has already issued a statement saying that Bose has ordered a ban on the entry of cops to the Raj Bhavan "in the guise of conducting unauthorised, illegitimate, sham and motivated investigations to placate political bosses during the election".
(With agency inputs)