The CPM Sunday suspended former MLA Tanmay Bhattacharya from the party over sexual harassment allegations by a woman journalist, who also filed a police complaint against Bhattacharya at Baranagar Police Station, accusing him of “sexual advancement and outrage of modesty.”

The woman, who conducted a Facebook Live session on Sunday afternoon, said she visited Bhattacharya’s residence in Baranagar for an interview, when he had made improper advances and sexually harassed her. “I’ve never faced such an incident in four years of my career,” she said.

However, Bhattacharya, who previously represented the Dum Dum Uttar constituency, denied the allegations and said, “I am stunned.” He claimed that the woman journalist had come to interview him earlier also on several occasions.

Soon after Facebook Live went viral, CPM state secretary Md. Salim announced Bhattacharya’s suspension, till the party’s internal disciplinary committee completes a probe on the same.

The CPM state committee, in a press statement, said the party views any such allegation with seriousness and the allegation has affected the party’s image, so Bhattacharya has been “suspended” from the party. “On Sunday we came to know that a lady journalist … felt offended with Tanmay’s behaviour…We have an internal complaint committee, they have a procedure… what Tanmay did, party can’t support such behaviour…,” said Md. Salim.