Biman Bose is in trouble — in double trouble, for those numerically minded. The state election commission today lodged a complaint with the Taltala police against Bose and an FIR was filed against him “for instigating supporters to create disturbance”. The police have handed over the case to the anti-rowdy section of its detective department for investigations.
Even within the CPI(M), Bose was severely admonished last night by general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet, state secretary Anil Biswas and party patriarch Jyoti Basu for shooting off his mouth at an inopportune time and messing up the party’s subtle but potentially more effective campaign against the EC.
As if this wasn’t bad enough, the state government has created further difficulties for Bose and invited controversy regarding its neutrality, by handing the probe against Bose to an officer long known to him.
Anti-rowdy section officer Buddhadeb Mukherjee, the man investigating the case, was an SFI member and the union’s magazine committee secretary during his days as a student at Burdwan University.
“Bose has known Mukherjee since 1986 when he was the SFI’s magazine committee secretary. They used to have frequent interactions over bringing out the magazine. The chances of an impartial probe in a case like this are obviously very remote,” an officer said.
The official complaints against the Left Front boss, however, are serious enough: “Biman Bose being the chairman of Left Front instigated his supporters to create disturbance and obstruction to the Election Commission officials”. The police have started a case against him under Sections 153/189/171C-(2)/503/504 and 505 (1) of IPC. “The last Section [505(1)] is non-bailable, arrest would be up to the discretion of superior officers,” a police source said. Investigating officer Buddhadeb Mukherjee said, “I won’t comment on the case. The probe will take its own course.”
{{/usCountry}}The official complaints against the Left Front boss, however, are serious enough: “Biman Bose being the chairman of Left Front instigated his supporters to create disturbance and obstruction to the Election Commission officials”. The police have started a case against him under Sections 153/189/171C-(2)/503/504 and 505 (1) of IPC. “The last Section [505(1)] is non-bailable, arrest would be up to the discretion of superior officers,” a police source said. Investigating officer Buddhadeb Mukherjee said, “I won’t comment on the case. The probe will take its own course.”
{{/usCountry}}But other officers, who refused to be named, were sceptical. “If there is evidence, a charge-sheet will be framed. But who will come forward to give a statement against Biman Bose,” one of them said.
H.P. Singh, deputy commissioner (HQ), said the complaint would be taken up seriously. “But most of the charges are bailable”. Asked whether Bose could be arrested, deputy commissioner (Central) Rajiv Kumar, said, “Arrest is not mandatory. It’s up to the investigative agency’s discretion.”
Suitably shaken, Bose paused to weigh every word he spoke and parried most questions thrown at him during a news conference today at Alimuddin Street. “I am won’t discuss the matter with you. An FIR has been filed against me, and it is a legal issue now”.
Bengal votes
Violence
Two die in blasts while making bombs, one of them at Domkal (Murshidabad) and the other at Parihati (W Midnapore). 26 injured, including 13 CPM cadres in a clash with Congress workers in Nanoor, Birbhum; and 3 persons in Kolkata when bombs are hurled in Beliaghata (Kolkata North East) before start of polling. Mob damages car of EC observer for Krishnagore
Repoll
At some booths in Barrackpore, Tamluk & Malda constituencies. Presiding officer of a booth in Englishbazar (Malda) beaten up; 2 EVMs damaged at a Titagarh booth (Barrackpore); EVM snatched at Moyna (Tamluk)