Kolkata

The Supreme Court of India issued a notice regarding a plea from a female Raj Bhavan staffer in Kolkata challenging the Governor’s blanket immunity from criminal prosecution. The plea, which accuses West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose of sexual harassment, has been met with a positive response from West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s counsel, Sanjay Basu.

In a statement, Basu welcomed the Supreme Court’s notice, asserting that it contradicts Raj Bhavan’s claim that the allegations were politically motivated to damage the Governor’s reputation. The SC’s decision to issue a notice counters Raj Bhavan’s claims that this case was politically driven. Sexual harassment allegations must be addressed seriously, regardless of the individual’s position, and the Court will set clear guidelines on this matter, Basu’s statement read.

Earlier, on July 16, the Calcutta HC had issued an interim stay on derogatory comments against the Governor, following a defamation suit filed by Bose against the CM. Despite this, some leaders of the Trinamool Congress, including Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitra and party leader Kunal Ghosh, have continued to make indirect remarks on social media about the issue.