Molestation case against Bengal CPM leader for misbehaving with woman journalist

Communist Party of India (Marxist) has suspended former MLA Tanmoy Bhattacharya following an allegation by a woman journalist that he had misbehaved with her.

In Short

• Case against CPI(M) leader Tanmoy Bhattacharya for molestation
• Journalist accused politician of inappropriate gestures
• She alleged that Bhattacharya sat on her lap during the interview

An FIR has been registered against Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and former MLA Tanmoy Bhattacharya in West Bengal capital Kolkata following allegations of molestation by a young female journalist, officials said on Sunday.

The journalist took to Facebook and accused Bhattacharya, a former Dumdum North MLA, of making inappropriate gestures towards her. She claimed the CPI(M) leader held her hand or touched her in inappropriate ways while she conducted an interview with him at his residence.

During an interview on Sunday, the journalist shared an incident where, while guiding Bhattacharya to a designated seat, he unexpectedly sat on her lap. She said the incident left her "deeply uncomfortable".

Later, she went live on social media to share her experience, calling Bhattacharya a 'potential rapist' and questioning whether CPI(M) leaders would address the situation or remain silent.

The allegation was denied by Bhattacharya, who claimed that she had come to interview her earlier also on several occasions.

Meanwhile, the CPI(M) has suspended Bhattacharya and initiated an internal inquiry into the matter. The CPI(M) state committee, in a press statement, said that the party views any such allegation with seriousness.

"The complaint of the woman journalist has been sent to the party's internal complaint committee. Future steps will be taken on the basis of its recommendations," the statement said.

CPI(M) state secretary Mohd Salim said that the journalist of a news portal was hurt by Bhattacharya's alleged behaviour and complained to the party.

"The allegation is very serious and the party does not support any such act," he said, adding that he could not understand why Bhattacharya gave interviews at his home.

(With inputs from PTI.)