A general diary entry (GDE) has been registered at Hare Street police station on a complaint from a contractual Raj Bhavan employee that governor C.V. Ananda Bose made “physical advances” after trying to lure her with the promise of a “promotion”.

City police have formed an eight-member “special enquiry team”, led by deputy commissioner (central division) Indira Mukherjee.

The woman lodged a written complaint with the police on Thursday alleging Bose had on April 19 asked her to meet him with her bio-data. She said she met Bose at his office around 12.45pm on April 24.

“On April 24, she says, the governor had a formal discussion with her before he allegedly made her an indecent proposal and touched her inappropriately. She said she managed to get out of the room,” a senior police officer told this newspaper.

On May 2, the complainant alleges, Bose called her again. “She said she took the supervisor along with her remembering what had (allegedly) transpired the other day. They met the governor in the conference room. She said that after some time the governor asked the supervisor to leave,” the officer said.

“After that, (the woman says) he prolonged their conversation by offering her a promotion,” the officer said.

“He (Bose) allegedly told her he would call her at night and asked her not to divulge this to anyone. The woman protested and then he allegedly tried to touch her inappropriately,” the officer said.

Television channel ABP Ananda asked the woman on Friday if she was willing to return to the Raj Bhavan. She said: “I do not wish to go back. Either he will be there, or I will.”

A general diary entry (GDE) does not amount to a case; an FIR does. According to Article 361 of the Constitution, no criminal proceedings can be conducted against the President or the governor during their term of office.

The police can conduct an enquiry and submit the report to the state government, which can forward the report to the President, the appointing authority of the governor.

Governor Bose issued a voice message that spoke of a “sinister plot”.

He said: “I welcome all generous allegations and frequent innuendos passed around me by some political forces. I understand, my friends, there is more in the offing. But one thing is clear. None of the absurd dramas is going to deter me from my determined efforts to expose corruption and curb violence.”

He added: “Now I have information, my friends, that a more sinister plot has been hatched in the Raj Bhavan. We know the characters responsible for this. Beware. “I am not surprised. I was briefed about what I can expect in Bengal by certain political parties. I have braved many storms. I tell the political party that is plotting against me, this is no storm…. Do not be surprised if you realise I am the storm.

“At least now the politician should realise that I would like to be the captain of the storm, not captain of the calm. Bring out all weapons from your armoury, use them against me. I am willing. I am prepared. Sorry, my detractors, I have learned the lesson to fight not flight. Waiting for the next grenade and your hidden bullets.

“Yes, with great expectations. Please fire, I am willing to receive it.... I am only assuring my brothers and sisters of Bengal… ‘Ei lorai ami lorbo (I will fight this fight)’.”

The woman had verbally told the police on Thursday that she had heard from her colleagues at the Raj Bhavan that another woman (whose name is being withheld by this newspaper) used to call the governor’s office to complain about the governor.

But a senior official at the Raj Bhavan had allegedly instructed staff “not to entertain” her, the complainant had told the police on Thursday.

“Now I feel her (the other woman’s) allegations must be true,” she told the police.

Bose had on his X handle late on Thursday evening announced a ban on the “entry of police in the Raj Bhavan premises”.

Senior officers at the Lalbazar police headquarters said they had not received any formal communication from the Raj Bhavan on the ban till late on Friday afternoon.

The police outpost inside the Raj Bhavan compound was operational on Friday like the other days, the police said. A senior officer said a team of officers had visited the Raj Bhavan on Friday to initiate the probe.

“We are consulting legal experts and taking all steps accordingly. As part of the enquiry, the police will examine other staff members at the Raj Bhavan. A list has already been drawn,” the officer said.

The police said they would collect CCTV footage from the Raj Bhavan compound.

Following the allegations against the governor and the formal police complaint, the central intelligence bureau flagged an alert to the Bengal government on Friday.

It flagged possible protests and demonstrations by “rival political parties” near the Raj Bhavan or the places that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to visit, sources in the Special Protection Group, which handles the Prime Minister’s security, said.

Modi addressed three political rallies in the districts on Friday before he left Bengal.