Man who booked Del ticket for dancer refuses to join probe
Times of India | 16 May 2024
Kolkata: Police attempts to record the statement of a Bengaluru-based person referred to as “Bhatija” who had booked the flight and hotel for the Kolkata-based Odishi dancer to travel to Delhi in January 2023 had drawn a blank. The person, police said, has till now refused to record his statement. In her complaint lodged in Oct last year, the dancer alleged that she had been abused by governor C V Ananda Bose in a Delhi hotel.
So far eight Raj Bhavan employees — including a special secretary — refused to join the police probe in first complaint of molestation on May 2.Police had summoned nine persons in this connection, but only a Raj Bhavan chef testified and others did not. Raj Bhavan has issued a gag order on its employees earlier from speaking to police. Governor Bose, who has not issued any statement on the second complaint, had earlier cited his constitutional immunity from any criminal probe. Raj Bhavan did not speak on the fresh developments.
Speaking to TOI, the woman in her early twenties, who lodged the May 2 complaint, said: “I don’t know whether he can still hold any constitutional post and enjoy immunity even after today’s news of harassment of a dancer by him at Delhi.” The woman said, “I appeal to all Central and state govt organizations, all government undertakings, all business houses, and private bodies to stop inviting him to their functions to chair or at any capacity. I would also request all charitable organisations and NGOs to refrain from receiving any kind of assistance from him. He may ask for any undue advantage for that assistance too.” The woman had earlier indicated she would take her complaint to the President.
Trinamool, which has announced a protest march to Raj Bhavan, kept up the heat. The party’s former Rajya Sabha MP Kunal Ghosh, said: “CM Mamata Banerjee has already articulated our views in public. We demand his resignation. But we have also noticed that BJP has maintained a disquiet silence on the allegations against Governor Bose. The party which claims to champion the cause of women, have been extremely vocal on Sandeshkhali, appears to have gone mum. Why this dichotomy? Are we to believe Raj Bhavan is nothing but a BJP party office?”