Premangshu Roy, a director who was conducting a theatre workshop organised by the Bengal government in Burdwan district, was removed on Thursday following allegations that he sent lewd messages to a participant late in the night.
The six -day workshop was cancelled midway and Roy was ‘suspended’ after complaints reached the information and cultural affairs department headed by the chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
The government has started an investigation.
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The workshop was the brain child of Minerva Theatre group that is patronised by information technology minister and leading theatre personality Bratya Basu. After being informed about the incident, Basu said he was extremely irritated. “I will look into the matter. I have never tolerated any kind of nonsense and I will not tolerate any nonsense in future as well,” said Basu.
“We received text messages in which Roy said ‘you give me one hour and I will give you work for an entire year,” said a woman who participated in the workshop.
{{/usCountry}}“We received text messages in which Roy said ‘you give me one hour and I will give you work for an entire year,” said a woman who participated in the workshop.
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“It is the duty of theatre workers like us to ensure that this solemn space is not polluted. It is a serious matter that requires investigation,” remarked Arpita Ghosh, theatre director and Trinamool Congress MP.
The workshop started on October 8 and was supposed to continue till October 13. An officer of the information and cultural affairs department said it was called off because the participants wanted action and the government wanted to take steps. Premangshu Roy, the accused, did not respond to queries from the media.