Calcutta High Court Temporarily Halts Probe Against Raj Bhavan Officer

The Calcutta High Court has issued a temporary halt on the police investigation involving a Raj Bhavan officer, amidst allegations surrounding Governor CV Ananda Bose. On Friday, Justice Amrita Sinha decreed a suspension of the investigation until June 17, in response to the case concerning alleged wrongful restraint of a woman who has accused Governor Bose of molestation.

In a significant development, Governor Bose expressed his satisfaction over the court's decision, interpreting it as a victory for truth against malevolence. He took to X to share his thoughts, stating, "Truth will triumph, though evil may appear to be making a victory dance in the beginning." This statement came after Raj Bhavan officials, including the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Sandeep Kumar Singh, were initially granted bail by the court, which also overruled police objections.

The court has also instructed the police to present a report on their investigation up to this point by June 10, when the case is slated for further hearing. OSD Sandeep Kumar Singh approached the high court with a plea for quashing the proceedings against him and the FIR lodged in connection with the incident.

According to police reports, three officials from Raj Bhavan were implicated in the FIR for allegedly preventing a woman from exiting the premises by wrongfully restraining her on May 2. The complaint followed accusations against Governor Bose of molestation by the same woman on the same day, prompting an investigation by Kolkata Police.

Under Article 361 of the Constitution, governors are granted immunity from criminal proceedings during their term in office. Following these allegations, Singh and two other staff members named in the complaint secured anticipatory bail from the chief metropolitan magistrate's court on May 21.

Singh's legal representative, Rajdeep Majumdar, argued before Justice Sinha that the allegations were implausible and did not warrant registration of a case. Conversely, Advocate General Kishore Dutta, representing the state, contested this view. He argued against hastening to restrict police investigations into the complaint and advocated for allowing the probe to proceed.

This legal confrontation underscores a complex scenario involving high-ranking officials and raises questions about governance and legal protections afforded to public figures. With the next hearing scheduled for June 10, all eyes will be on how this legal drama unfolds and what implications it may have for those involved.