Woman reporter alleges CPI (M) leader sat on her lap during interview

At a time when the CPI(M) has upped the ante against the Mamata Banerjee Government highlighting the lack of safety of women in the State following the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata's R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, it has been forced to take action against its veteran leader for allegedly molesting a woman scribe at his residence.

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

The CPI(M) has suspended its veteran leader Tanmoy Bhattacharya, a former MLA, who has been accused of outraging the modesty of a woman reporter. Bhattacharya, who was the CPM candidate from Baranagar in an Assembly bypoll this year, has denied the allegation.

The woman scribe working for an online news portal alleged that on Sunday, the leader had made comments and off-colour jokes and had sat on her lap when she had visited the leader's home to record an interview. The woman went live on Facebook with her accusation and also filed a complaint with Baranagar police station, alleging that the leader had sat on her lap on the pretext of sitting down for the interview.