CPI-M Lifts Suspension on Bengal Leader Accused of Sexual Misconduct
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Kolkata, Dec 14 (NationPress) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has lifted the suspension of veteran party leader and former MLA Tanmoy Bhattacharya, who was accused of sexual misconduct by a woman journalist associated with an independent YouTube news channel in October this year.
The announcement was conveyed through a WhatsApp message circulated by district secretary Mrinal Chakraborty in the North 24 Parganas district committee of the CPI-M. The message stated that Bhattacharya would now be allowed to engage in the organizational activities of the party as he had previously.
Following the woman's allegations on Facebook, claiming that Bhattacharya exhibited “sexually inappropriate” behavior during an interview at his residence in October, the state committee of the CPI-M suspended him on the same day and initiated an internal investigation through the party’s internal complaints committee.
Subsequently, based on the FIR filed by the female reporter at Baranagar Police Station, Bhattacharya was called in for questioning multiple times by the police. However, the police did not take any coercive action against him.
Confirming the revocation of his suspension, Bhattacharya stated on Saturday that he would address the matter exclusively in internal party meetings.
Bhattacharya has consistently denied the allegations of sexual misconduct, asserting that the accusations were part of a “well-orchestrated scheme” to tarnish his reputation.
“I am a communist and will remain one until my last breath. If I am proven innocent, I will continue as a CPI-M activist. If my party finds me guilty and expels me, I will still identify as a communist until my final days. Even if I cannot serve as a CPI-M activist, I will persist as a communist,” Bhattacharya had previously stated.
