Calcutta High Court Approves Anticipatory Bail for CPI-M Leader Accused of Sexual Misconduct
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Kolkata, Dec 17 (NationPress) The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday approved anticipatory bail for veteran CPI-M leader and former legislator Tanmoy Bhattacharya, who is facing accusations of sexual harassment from a woman journalist linked to an independent YouTube news channel dating back to October.
This decision by a division bench of Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Gaurang Kanth has provided a significant relief for Bhattacharya, especially since the CPI-M lifted the suspension imposed on him on December 14, a direct consequence of the allegations made by the journalist during a Facebook live session.
Following the filing of an FIR against Bhattacharya at Baranagar Police Station by the journalist, the seasoned CPI-M leader sought anticipatory bail from the Calcutta High Court.
The division bench granted his bail against a personal bond of Rs 100,000. However, it has also stipulated several conditions for him.
The first stipulation is that Bhattacharya must not contact the complainant, either directly or indirectly. The second condition requires him to fully cooperate with the police during the investigation, and the third mandates that he report to the local police station once a month.
From the outset, Bhattacharya has categorically denied the allegations of sexual harassment, asserting that the charges are part of a “well-planned scheme” to tarnish his reputation.
“I am a Communist and will stay one until my last breath. If I am proved innocent, I will remain a CPI-M activist. If my party deems me guilty and expels me, I will still be a Communist until my final day. Even if I cannot continue as a CPI-M activist, my Communist beliefs will endure,” Bhattacharya had expressed previously.
