Maharashtra: BJP leader arrested after video of him forcibly kissing woman goes viral

A BJP leader from Gadchiroli in Maharashtra was arrested on Tuesday after a woman filed a rape case against him as a video clip of him forcibly kissing her in a luxury bus went viral. 

According to a Hindustan Times report, Ravindra Bawanthade is the BJP’s Gadchiroli district general secretary and was also the party in-charge of Armori assembly constituency in the district during the 2014 state elections.

The incident reportedly took place during a journey from Nagpur to Gadchiroli on June 27. CCTV footage in the bus had shown Bawanthade forcing himself on the woman. The leader had reportedly lured the girl by promising her a job. 

The Nagbhid Police at Bramhapuri have arrested Bawanthade under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 376 for rape. He has been sent to police custody until July 6. 

Meanwhile, Gadchiroli Lok Sabha member Ashok Nete, claimed that Bawanthade is no longer an office-bearer of the party since he had repeatedly failed to attend party meetings.