A contractual staff member at Raj Bhavan complained that governor C.V. Ananda Bose had made “physical advances” towards her and lodged a police complaint on Thursday.

The police said the 29-year-old woman alleged the governor had made advances towards her on April 24 and again on Thursday.

Bose said: “Truth shall triumph. I refuse to be cowed down by engineered narratives. If anybody wants some election benefits by maligning me, God Bless them. But they cannot stop my fight against corruption and violence in Bengal.” Raj Bhavan later issued a statement announcing a ban on the entry of police and minister Chandrima Bhattacharya into its premises.

“The woman said that when the governor made physical advances towards her on Thursday, she ran out of the building,” a police officer said.

“A senior Raj Bhavan official tried to intervene when she ran out ‘screaming and crying’,” the officer said.

Another officer said although the allegations amount to criminal charges, the Constitution says: “No criminal proceedings shall be conducted against the President or the Governor during his term in office…. No arrest or imprisonment shall be made….”

The police said they will investigate the allegations.

The complaint emerged at a time when PM Narendra Modi was scheduled to visit Calcutta and stay at Raj Bhavan.

The Trinamool Congress posted on its X handle: “Hours before PM Narendra Modi was supposed to arrive at Raj Bhavan to spend the night, a woman was allegedly molested by the Governor under the false pretext of job. Such despicable behaviour must be condemned in the strongest terms. Justice must be delivered swiftly for the victim – no excuses, no delays!”