Kolkata/IBNS: The CPI(M) Sunday suspended its party leader and former MLA Tanmoy Bhattacharya following an allegation by a woman journalist that he had misbehaved with her.

In a Facebook live on Sunday, the journalist claimed that he had made improper advances and touched her when she went to interview him at his residence.

The woman journalist also claimed that this was not the first time Bhattacharya made such improper advances.

"I had faced harassment at Bhattacharya's house earlier also... He has a tendency to touch people. He would touch my hand," she said but added that she had not complained about it fearing repercussions. 

"But what happened this time was too much," she said. 

Bhattacharya has denied all allegations and claimed that she had come to interview her earlier also on several occasions.

In a press statement, the CPI(M) state committee said that the party views any such allegation with seriousness.

Stating that the allegation has affected the party's image among the people, the CPI(M) in a statement said that Bhattacharya has been "suspended" from the party's membership.

"The complaint of the woman journalist has been sent to the party's internal complaint committee. Future steps will be taken on the basis of its recommendations," the statement said.

Speaking on the allegations, CPIM state secretary Mohammed Salim said: "We don't allow this kind of indiscipline in the party. He should be sensitive about what is a good touch and a bad touch. Hence, we have decided to suspend him from the party."