Raj Bhavan staffers fail to turn up at PS, cops send 2nd notice
Times of India | 20 May 2024
Kolkata: The three Raj Bhavan employees summoned by cops to Hare Street police station on Sunday did not turn up to face the interrogators. The notice was served under CrPC 41 (A) and cops said that not responding to it amounted to facing legal action. By evening, the cops issued a second notice asking them to present themselves before police next Tuesday.The police said they are also keeping all legal options open.
The cops said they were yet to get any communication — either written or verbal — till the time this report was filed on Sunday evening. Though reports indicated that at least one of the three accused have left Kolkata, cops have refused to either confirm or deny the same.
The notice under Section 41A of the CrPC would require a person to appear before cops at a specified place and time. Offences such as theft, cheating, forgery, assault, or other offences with a maximum punishment of seven years of imprisonment fall under this provision.
On Thursday, cops had registered an FIR against three Raj Bhavan staffers for “wrongful restraint” of the junior staff member who had brought charges of physical harassment against governor C V Ananda Bose on May 2.
Kolkata Police had filed an FIR against officer on special duty S S Rajput and contractual employees Kusum Chetri (on pantry duty) and Sant Lal for allegedly wrongfully restraining the contractual employee, who accused the governor of molesting her, under sections 341 (wrongful restraint) and 166 (public servant disobeying law). Unlike the governor, Raj Bhavan staffers do not enjoy any constitutional immunity.
The FIR was lodged after the woman recorded her statement in connection with the molestation case before a magistrate. Cops said the names of all FIR-accused had appeared in the complaint.
A CCTV grab showing an accused woman carrying a bag belonging to the complainant has helped cops firm up their evidence, for which they need to record the employees’ statements.