Molestation Case Against W Bengal Guv: Woman Files Plea In SC Challenging Immunity To CV Ananda Bose

The woman who alleged that West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose sexually harassed her when she worked at the Raj Bhawan has now moved the Supreme Court challenging the blanket immunity

In May, a woman who worked as a staff member at the West Bengal Raj Bhawan, accused Governor CV Ananda Bose of molestation. (Image: PTI)

The woman who alleged that West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose sexually harassed her when she worked at the Raj Bhawan has now moved the Supreme Court challenging the blanket immunity enjoyed by the Governor under Article 361.

In May, the woman who worked as a staff member at the West Bengal Raj Bhawan, accused Governor CV Ananda Bose of molestation. 

The woman has filed a petition in the apex court contending that Article 361 of Indian constituion does not bar police investigation against the Governor and the blanket immunity does not apply on criminal acts.

The petitioner contended that allowing such immunity would force her to await the Governor to demit office to initiate the trial, which is unreasonable and violates her fundamental rights.

The petitioner has appealed to the apex court to decide whether sexual harassment and molestation are part of "discharging or performing duties by the Governor." 

"This court has to decide whether a victim like the Petitioner can be rendered remediless, with the only option being to wait for the accused to demit his office, which delay will then be inexplainable during the trial, and render the entire procedure a mere lip service, without any justice to the victim herein," the plea read.

The petion further seek framing of guidelines to deal with such cases that involve immunity to Governor. The woman has appealed in the top court for a thorough investigation into the case by West Bengal police. She further seeks protection from state and compensation for trauma caused to her.

As per the victim's complaint, the Governor had called her on April 24 and May 2 on the false pretext of offering a better job only to sexually harass within the premises of Raj Bhavan during working hours.

The woman in her plea has also stated that the Governor is using media to give statements in the press to brush aside the allegations under the carpet by terming them “engineered narrative” while she is rendered voiceless and shunned to a life of depravity and ridicule.