At a time when the CPI(M) has upped the ante against the Mamata Banerjee Government highlighting the lack of safety of women in the State following the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, it has been forced to take action against its veteran leader for allegedly molesting a woman scribe at his residence.
The CPI(M)has suspended its veteran leader Tanmoy Bhattacharya, a former MLA, who has been accused of outraging the modesty of a woman reporter. Bhattacharya, who was the CPM candidate from Baranagar in an Assemby bypoll this year, has denied the allegation.
The woman scribe working for an online news portal alleged that on Sunday, the leader had made comments and off-colour jokes and had sat on her lap when she had visited the leader’s home to record an interview. The woman went live on Facebook with her accusation and also filed a complaint with Baranagar police station, alleging that the leader had sat on her lap on the pretext of sitting down for the interview.
The woman alleged that this was not the first time Bhattacharya had tried to make advances towards her. But she had not complained before because she thought it was a prank, the woman said on social media.
“I was shocked to see her live Facebook post…. If I had outraged her modesty, she could have directly gone to Baranagar police station, a stone’s throw from my home,” said Bhattacharya.
Bhattacharya suggested he was a victim of a conspiracy, alleging that the complainant had gone to a few other places before visiting the police station to record her complaint.
“Her live (Facebook) post, followed by (Trinamool Congress leader) Kunal Ghosh’s repost within 20 minutes and, finally, Debangshu Bhattacharya’s post, raised many questions. I can’t imagine people could stoop so low for political gain,” he said. Ghosh and Debangshu Bhattacharya are Trinamool leaders.
A few hours later, the CPM issued a statement saying Bhattacharya has been suspended from the party.
“Tanmoy Bhattacharya has been suspended based on the allegations of the woman. The complaint has been forwarded to the internal complaints committee. Based on the findings and recommendations of the ICC, the next steps would be decided,” the statement read.
An FIR has been drawn against the leader. Barrackpore police commissioner Alok Rajoria said a case of outrage of modesty has been filed against Bhattacharya who has been summoned to the police station to record his statement.
Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh, on X, asked Kolkata Police why it had not yet arrested the CPIM leader. He posted: “Why Tanmoy Bhattacharya has not been arrested yet? The matter has been brought to your attention long ago. The victim gave a statement to the journalist. Why has he not been arrested? We don’t want to do politics. Otherwise I would have gone to the police station myself.”
