Mumbai: In what could be a big embarrassment to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Maharashtra, a local leader in Chandrapur area of Gadchiroli district was caught on CCTV forcibly kissing a woman passenger in a moving bus.
After the video went viral, the young victim lodged a complaint with the police and a rape case was registered against the BJP leader identified as Ravindra Bawanthade. In the video, the accused is seen forcibly trying to kiss her in the bus, travelling from Nagpur to Gadchiroli, on June 27.
The victim in her complaint alleged that Bawanthade had promised to help her get a job and marry her.
“Since I was poor, I needed support,” she said. “But he took advantage of my situation and misbehaved with me. Now that the video has gone viral, I’m very worried.”
Bawanthade is already married and according to reports, is a schoolteacher in Gadchiroli where the 19-year-old woman was once his student.
The Nagbhid Police at Brahmpuri, Chandrapur, arrested Bawanthade, who was absconding, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 376 for rape. He has been sent to police custody until July 6.
According to police, a cyber team in Chandrapur is studying the video and an investigation is under way.
Besides Bawanthade, police have also arrested the bus driver, cleaner and helper of the bus on Wednesday for circulating the video.
