2 weeks Ago By Express News Service
BENGALURU: A 40-year-old woman has filed a rape case against BJP MLA Munirathna. In her complaint with the Kaggalipura police of Ramanagara district on Wednesday, the woman has also alleged that the MLA was using women infected with HIV to honey-trap his rivals. The police recorded her statement before a magistrate, under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc) and also conducted the mahazar, on Thursday.
This is the third FIR against the BJP MLA from Rajarajeshwari Nagar Assembly constituency in a week. He was earlier booked for allegedly threatening a Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) contractor and making insulting remarks against people belonging to the Scheduled Castes. He was arrested in connection with the atrocities case on Saturday, in which he got bail on Thursday.
The rape case was filed by a social worker, accusing the MLA, along with his associates Vijaya Kumar, Sudhakara, Kiran Kumar, Lohith Gowda, Manjunath, and Loki, of sexual assault, blackmail and harassment. The woman, a resident of Muthyala Nagar, has accused the MLA of repeatedly raping and threatening her. The alleged incidents took place at various locations, including Munirathna’s godown and a resort, she said in her complaint.
The woman also claimed the MLA initially approached her to discuss local issues during Covid-19 pandemic. She stated that Munirathna repeatedly harassed her through messages and phone calls and eventually raped her, using threats. The woman also mentioned the involvement of others in the crime.
She alleged Munirathna had installed cameras to record the act, and used it to blackmail her into further submission. The accused have been booked under IPC Sections 354A (sexual harassment), 354C (voyeurism), 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation), 504 (intentional insult), 120(b) (criminal conspiracy), 149 (unlawful assembly), 384 (extortion), 406 (criminal breach of trust), and 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide). Sources said mahazar was conducted at a godown near JP Park in Bengaluru, where the alleged crime was committed.
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