The Rajya Sabha Ethics Committee headed by Congress leader Karan Singh on Monday expressed “displeasure” at the conduct of expelled CPI(M) leader Ritabrata Banerjee, after a 30-year-old woman, who accused him of raping her, also complained to the Rajya Sabha.
The Ethics Committee for now has decided not to take any action against Mr. Banerjee as the case is sub judice . The complainant has sent a detailed note on the harassment, including photographs to support her claim.
According to sources, Mr. Banerjee, in his reply, has said that he was well acquainted with the complainant and had tried to help her. He, however, pleaded innocence claiming that he had not broken any law. “The case is sub judice , so there can be no concrete action against the accused member till he is proven guilty,” said a member of the Ethics Committee.
As per Rajya Sabha rules, the Ethics Committee can even disqualify a member for “unethical” behaviour. In October, a 30-year-old research scholar filed a police complaint against Mr. Banerjee stating that he had sexually exploited her with false promise to marry her. Mr. Banerjee filed a complaint against her alleging extortion and blackmail.
The complainant has posted videos and photographs of them on social media.
