With there being no love lost between the State secretariat, Nabanna and the Raj Bhavan, Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Thursday said that he was feeling increasingly threatened by the policemen responsible for his personal security.
"I have reasons to believe that the presence of the current officer-in-charge and his team is a threat to my personal security," Bose said days after he directed the State police personnel posted at the Raj Bhavan to vacate the area.
The Governor said that the conduct of the police Officer in-Charge (an inspector level official) posted at the Raj Bhavan made him suspicious and uncomfortable.
Alleging that he had brought things to the notice of the State Government and the Chief Minister the Governor said, I have informed Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee that I am insecure with Calcutta Police in Raj Bhavan, but there was no action."
A senior police official earlier attached with the Governor's House said that such kind of allegations were unprecedented and would not speak very highly about people manning such responsible positions.
The Governor had told the State Government that he was constantly being snooped at "which is not possible without the insistence of influencers" from outside.
"The policemen posted here have been snooping on my movements as well as many of my officers. Their acts are with the tacit support of their political masters in government. This is violative of the Constitution," Bose said wondering why the officials were not withdrawn despite his directions.
Taking potshots at the Home Department handled by the Chief Minister herself the Governor said "none of these can happen without the knowledge of the highest authorities in the police department which is under the Home department."
Referring to the "misdeeds" of the police officials posted at his residence the Governor said that such misdeeds amounted to "working against the Raj Bhavan and the interest of the people," the Governor asserted saying his claims were based on reliable sources and his own verification. "I have verified it myself also," the Governor said drawing a link between the police personnel posted at Raj Bhavan and their antecedents. "These people were posted earlier posted at the State secretariat Nabanna," and were "working working as sleuths for somebody. That somebody I do not want to name now," he said stopping short of naming the Chief Minister who is also the Home Minister, more frequently called the Police Minister in Bengal.
As snooping at Raj Bhavan was a "criminal offence" the Home Minister too should be responsible for such actions of the police force the Governor said referring to the Mundra case of the 1950s where the then Finance Minister TT Krishnamachari was held constitutionally liable for his secretary's actions by the Chagla Commission.
The Governor's allegations come days after Bengal Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari was prevented from meeting him despite a pre-fixed appointment. Adhikari had alleged that he was prevented from entering the Raj Bhavan by the police despite he had an appointment with the Governor. Adhikari had gone to the Raj Bhavan to discuss the issue of continuing post-poll violence in Bengal.
