Woman accuses former CPM leader Ritabrata Banerjee of sexual assault

A Netherlands-based woman from West Bengal's Balurghat has accused former Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) leader MP Ritabrata Banerjee of sexual assault.

"He promised to marry me and paid me to keep quiet," she told ANI, on 9 October.

She alleged they had physical relationship during her stay in Delhi before leaving for the Netherlands.

Ritabrata has also lodged a complaint, at the Garfa Police station in Kolkata, demanding an action against the woman for maligning him and levelling 'false allegations' against him.

He also uploaded on Twitter few screenshots of a WhatsApp conversation he had with the woman, during which she asked for Rs. 50 lakh for not filing an FIR.

The CPM had, on 17 September, expelled Ritabrata from the primary membership for grave anti-party activities, including 'moral degeneration in relation to women'. 

-ANI