Kolkata: The Union Home Ministry has initiated disciplinary action against Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and a DCP for allegedly defaming the West Bengal governor's office by promoting and spreading hoaxes, a government official said. central.
The Union Ministry's action came after Governor CV Ananda Bose submitted a report to it on Goyal and Kolkata Central Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Indira Mukherjee, alleging that they were "functioning in a completely improper manner." of a public servant," he said. .
Bose's report, submitted to the Home Minister in late June, highlighted issues such as Calcutta police officers preventing victims of post-poll violence from meeting the Governor despite his permission. .
"The Union Home Ministry has initiated disciplinary action against the IPS officers based on a detailed report by Bose," the official said. Copies of the letter were sent to the state government on July 4.
The governor also accused other police officers, posted at Raj Bhavan, of promoting and encouraging fabricated allegations by a female employee during April-May 2024, the official added.
"These IPS officers with their actions have not only tarnished the office of the Governor but have also acted in a manner completely unbecoming of a public servant. They have conveniently chosen to ignore the Rules of Conduct," he added.
In his report, Bose mentioned the Kolkata Police's alleged new practice of issuing identity cards to Raj Bhavan staff and frisking them upon entry and exit, despite objections from the governor's office.
"Preventing a delegation of violence victims from various parts of West Bengal, accompanied by opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari, from meeting Bose and subsequently detaining them is an affront to the governor's constitutional authority," the official said.
The official noted that it was worrying that the victims had to go to court to meet with the Governor.
Referring to the Kolkata Police's "complete silence" on Bose's June 13 directive to withdraw the police contingent from Raj Bhavan, the official said it "was seen as defiance of orders".
"Since mid-June, the Kolkata police stationed at Raj Bhavan unilaterally established a 'security mechanism' without the knowledge and consent of the Governor, effectively putting the entire establishment under 'arrest' and 'surveillance'," he said.
Bose's report also mentions that a preliminary internal investigation found that allegations of sexual abuse against him by a former Raj Bhavan employee were part of a "pre-written script".
"Kolkata Police Commissioner and Indira Mukherjee formed a special investigation team (SIT) with unusual speed and continuous media briefings to create a false impression that the governor could face criminal proceedings," the report said.
The report also alleges that Goyal and Mukherjee were instrumental in promoting another "complaint" from January 2023.
"The Kolkata Police reportedly registered a 'zero FIR' at a local police station and transferred the case to New Delhi. On June 17, 2024, the alleged complainant publicly said that she had nothing against the governor and wanted to withdraw it. However However, "Calcutta police did not allow him to do so," the official said.
Bose had written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seeking action against Goyal and Mukherjee, but no action was taken nor was there any communication from his office.
Bose also referred to his recent visit to Siliguri to meet victims of Chopra violence, questioning the conduct of some state officials.
"His conduct does not conform to the rules and protocol manuals of All India Services. The state government was duly informed. However, in flagrant violation of protocol, the Darjeeling DM and Siliguri police commissioner did not call the governor. "Unfortunately, this was not a case. There have been several similar cases of similar rulings in the past," he said.
When he was contacted, Goyal said he had no information about the Union Home Ministry's action.
"I have no information about this. If anything has come, it must have gone to the state government," Goyal said.
Mukherjee echoed Goyal's statement and said that she had not received any information regarding the matter.
Calls to state home minister Nandini Chakraborty went unanswered.
The Union Ministry's action came after Governor CV Ananda Bose submitted a report to it on Goyal and Kolkata Central Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Indira Mukherjee, alleging that they were "functioning in a completely improper manner." of a public servant," he said. .
Bose's report, submitted to the Home Minister in late June, highlighted issues such as Calcutta police officers preventing victims of post-poll violence from meeting the Governor despite his permission. .
"The Union Home Ministry has initiated disciplinary action against the IPS officers based on a detailed report by Bose," the official said. Copies of the letter were sent to the state government on July 4.
The governor also accused other police officers, posted at Raj Bhavan, of promoting and encouraging fabricated allegations by a female employee during April-May 2024, the official added.
"These IPS officers with their actions have not only tarnished the office of the Governor but have also acted in a manner completely unbecoming of a public servant. They have conveniently chosen to ignore the Rules of Conduct," he added.
In his report, Bose mentioned the Kolkata Police's alleged new practice of issuing identity cards to Raj Bhavan staff and frisking them upon entry and exit, despite objections from the governor's office.
"Preventing a delegation of violence victims from various parts of West Bengal, accompanied by opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari, from meeting Bose and subsequently detaining them is an affront to the governor's constitutional authority," the official said.
The official noted that it was worrying that the victims had to go to court to meet with the Governor.
Referring to the Kolkata Police's "complete silence" on Bose's June 13 directive to withdraw the police contingent from Raj Bhavan, the official said it "was seen as defiance of orders".
"Since mid-June, the Kolkata police stationed at Raj Bhavan unilaterally established a 'security mechanism' without the knowledge and consent of the Governor, effectively putting the entire establishment under 'arrest' and 'surveillance'," he said.
Bose's report also mentions that a preliminary internal investigation found that allegations of sexual abuse against him by a former Raj Bhavan employee were part of a "pre-written script".
"Kolkata Police Commissioner and Indira Mukherjee formed a special investigation team (SIT) with unusual speed and continuous media briefings to create a false impression that the governor could face criminal proceedings," the report said.
The report also alleges that Goyal and Mukherjee were instrumental in promoting another "complaint" from January 2023.
"The Kolkata Police reportedly registered a 'zero FIR' at a local police station and transferred the case to New Delhi. On June 17, 2024, the alleged complainant publicly said that she had nothing against the governor and wanted to withdraw it. However However, "Calcutta police did not allow him to do so," the official said.
Bose had written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seeking action against Goyal and Mukherjee, but no action was taken nor was there any communication from his office.
Bose also referred to his recent visit to Siliguri to meet victims of Chopra violence, questioning the conduct of some state officials.
"His conduct does not conform to the rules and protocol manuals of All India Services. The state government was duly informed. However, in flagrant violation of protocol, the Darjeeling DM and Siliguri police commissioner did not call the governor. "Unfortunately, this was not a case. There have been several similar cases of similar rulings in the past," he said.
When he was contacted, Goyal said he had no information about the Union Home Ministry's action.
"I have no information about this. If anything has come, it must have gone to the state government," Goyal said.
Mukherjee echoed Goyal's statement and said that she had not received any information regarding the matter.
Calls to state home minister Nandini Chakraborty went unanswered.
