CPM Leader Suspended for Misconduct Towards Female Journalist During Interview

Kolkata : A shocking incident involving Tanmay Bhattacharya, a leader from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has come to light. Bhattacharya reportedly sat on a female journalist’s lap during an interview. The journalist shared her experience live on social media, revealing that this was not the first time Bhattacharya had behaved inappropriately, as he had allegedly attempted to touch her indecently in previous interviews as well. Following the revelation, the party suspended him, with the announcement made by the state secretary, Mohammad Salim, late Sunday evening. He stated that an internal investigation would be conducted, and Bhattacharya would remain suspended until its conclusion. Further actions will follow based on the committee’s recommendations.

The incident became public when the journalist accused Bhattacharya of misconduct during an interview, with a video of the incident going viral and sparking a stir within the party. Reacting to this, Salim said, “The allegations made by the female journalist are serious, and we do not condone such behavior. Our party does not support such actions.”

Salim also noted that the party has an internal complaints committee to address such cases, saying, “We must act appropriately and timely, which is why we decided to suspend Tanmay immediately.” Additionally, the police are investigating the matter, with a formal complaint registered at the Baranagar Police Station.

In her live video, the journalist recounted that Bhattacharya had attempted to misbehave without her consent, leading to an uproar on social media. When approached, Bhattacharya dismissed the incident as a joke, claiming he had engaged in similar “joking” behavior with the journalist in the past.

Senior CPM leader and prominent North 24 Parganas member Sujan Chakraborty also commented, saying, “Our party is not like others. We will take this matter seriously and ensure a proper investigation.”

Tanmay Bhattacharya, a former state president of the CPM’s youth wing, the Democratic Youth Federation of India, had recently lost a by-election. A retired bank employee, he has previously drawn attention for such behavior.