West Bengal Governor Dr. CV Ananda Bose filed a defamation case against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on June 28, a day after Banerjee stated that women had expressed fear about visiting Raj Bhavan due to reported incidents there. The defamation suit was scheduled for a hearing before Justice Krishna Rao at the Calcutta High Court, but the hearing was adjourned until Thursday.
Speaking exclusively to India Today TV after the adjournment, Mamata Banerjee's legal counsel, Sanjay Basu, criticized the Governor's move, describing it as an attempt to divert attention from other political issues, including the controversy over the swearing-in of elected members. Basu asserted that they would appropriately defend against these allegations.
Basu also defended Banerjee's statement, citing recent incidents where women had approached law enforcement agencies with complaints related to Raj Bhavan. He emphasized that it was justified for the Chief Minister to express concern, especially given her role as a woman leader.
Governor Bose had initially moved the High Court, which directed him to withdraw and re-file his defamation suit against Banerjee. This legal maneuvering follows Banerjee's statement during an administrative meeting on June 27, where she highlighted concerns raised by women regarding safety at Raj Bhavan.
The situation escalated after a contractual female employee of Raj Bhavan accused Bose of molestation on May 2, prompting an inquiry by the Kolkata Police. It's notable that according to Article 361 of the Constitution, criminal proceedings cannot be initiated against a Governor during their term in office.
