NCP MLA Laxmanrao Dhobale has been booked on rape charge after a 42-year-old woman accused him of repeatedly sexually abusing her, police said today.
The legislator from Solapur has been booked under IPC sections 376 (rape), 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) by the Borivali police, said Deputy Police Commissioner Balsingh Rajput.
The victim, who works in a college with which Dhobale has a close association, approached the police yesterday with a complaint, the DCP said.
According to police sources, the former state minister had allegedly warned the woman of dire consequences if she divulged anything about the sexual abuse, besides assaulting her and threatening to reveal her objectionable pictures.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday hit out at Laxmanrao Dhobale over allegations of rape levelled against him by a woman, and said that he must be punished.
“The NCP’s clear picture is out in the open and this ‘dadagiri’ will not work. Dhoble must be brought to task, must be punished. This not just a case of rape but also blackmail where he has blackmailed the clerk to suggest that he will go with her photographs viral,” said BJP spokesperson Shaina NC. “We want justice in Maharashtra and we want these arrogant NCP leaders to be brought to task,” she added.
Meanwhile, NCP leader Nawab Malik commenting on the issue said the law must take its course in this case. “The police will investigate the case registered against Laxman Dhoble, if wrong has been done then action must be taken. The law must take its course and we will not interfere with the investigation in any manner,” he said.
According to reports, a 42-year-old woman, who worked as a clerk at Dhoble's Nalanda Academy, has accused him of rape and criminal intimidation. The police have registered a case against Dhoble based on the woman’s complaint.
With inputs from ANI and PTI
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