• Source:JND
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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday stood firm on her statement that women had expressed fear of going to the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata. She also opposed the petition filed by Governor CV Anand Bose before the Calcutta High Court for an interim order in the defamation case filed against the Chief Minister and other Trinamool Congress leaders.

Mamata's lawyer SN Mukherjee argued before Justice Krishna Rao that the Chief Minister's remarks were a fair comment on issues of public interest and were not defamatory. Asserting that the Chief Minister stood by her statement, Mukherjee argued that she had only echoed the apprehensions of women over certain alleged activities at the Raj Bhavan.

Bose, represented by his lawyer, sought to restrain Mamata Banerjee, two newly elected MLAs and another TMC leader from making further comments in connection with alleged incidents at Raj Bhavan.

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Standing by her earlier remark, Banerjee's lawyer stated that she only repeated women's concerns about certain purported actions in Raj Bhavan. The counsel said he was ready to state on affidavit the names of women who expressed such apprehensions.

CV Anand Bose Is Accused Of Molesting A Female Employee

Mukherjee said that he is ready to give the names of the women who have expressed such apprehensions in the affidavit. On May 2, a contractual woman employee working in the Raj Bhavan had accused Bose of molestation, after which the Kolkata Police started investigating the case. Under Article 361 of the Constitution, no criminal proceedings can be initiated against a governor during his tenure.

Earlier on May 2, a contractual woman employee of Raj Bhavan had made an allegation of molestation against Bose, following which the Kolkata Police started an enquiry.

Under Article 361 of the Constitution, no criminal proceedings can be instituted against a governor during his/her term in office. Appearing for Bose, counsel Dhiraj Trivedi submitted that the issue started with the governor inviting the two newly elected TMC MLAs - Sayantika Banerjee and Reyat Hossain Sarkar - to take oath at the Raj Bhavan.

(With inputs from agency)