The Calcutta High Court on Friday stayed the police investigation against the Officer on Special Duty to the Governor (OSD) and other Raj Bhavan staffers who were accused of wrongful restraint by a former female worker who had accused Governor CV Ananda Bose of molestation.
The woman had alleged that the Raj Bhavan officials had restrained her in a room, and tried to take away her bag, cell phone and apprised her to not raise her voice against the Governor.
Citing that the accused had taken bail from the lower court, the single judge bench of Justice Amrita Sinha observed that the state had collected the relevant information regarding the case and the woman's allegations of restraint could not have been absolute as she was able to escape and file a case.
The court ruled that in order to prove the offence of unlawful restraint, absolute restraint was required, which was not present in this case. It said that because the woman could move freely, the charge of wrongful restriction could not be proven.
Taking this into consideration, the court also ordered a temporary stay on the investigation till June 17.
Furthermore, the high court directed the police to submit a report on the investigation done till date before it on June 10, when the matter will appear for hearing again.
The court order came after OSD Sandeep Kumar Singh moved the high court praying for quashing the proceedings against him and the FIR lodged. Meanwhile, Bengal Police said that three officials, including the OSD, were named in the FIR for allegedly stopping the woman from leaving Raj Bhavan by wrongfully restraining her on May 2.
Published By:
Akhilesh Nagari
Published On:
May 24, 2024
English (US) ·