00:00A BJP Karnataka MLA Prabhu Chauhan is at the center of a controversy.
00:07His son Pratik Chauhan has been booked on serious charges of rape.
00:11What are the facts and what's the latest on this case?
00:15Here is a look at the unfolding drama.
00:30Prabhu Chauhan is a well-known figure in Karnataka's political landscape, serving as an MLA and a former minister.
00:42His son Pratik Chauhan in his late 20s was until now largely away from the limelight.
00:48All that changed when the Bidhar women's police station registered an FIR against him based on allegations of sexual assault by a 25-year-old woman from near Utgir city in Maharashtra.
01:01According to the police complaint, the woman alleges a harrowing series of events.
01:07The two became engaged on 25 December 2023.
01:11The engagement attended by both families in Bidhar was meant to formalize their future together.
01:18The complainant claims that after their engagement, Pratik repeatedly raped her in various locations under the pretext of travel,
01:25including private hotels in Bengaluru, Lathur in Maharashtra and Shirdi, often citing future marriage as a promise.
01:33Whenever she refused, he allegedly threatened to call off the wedding.
01:37At least three times, she says, he took her to Lathur for sexual acts using emotional blackmail, threats and force.
01:46The complaint alleged that on one occasion, after coercing her to prove her love,
01:50the accused forced the victim to self-inflict a wound on her forearm.
01:55When she hesitated, he allegedly took the blade and caused a deep cut himself.
02:00The matter came to light after the woman was taken to a hospital in Utgir for treatment.
02:05On 5 July 2025, the woman and her family visited Pratik's home to finalize the wedding date.
02:14There, the atmosphere turned confrontational, with the Chauhan family allegedly refusing the match and telling them,
02:20we won't marry your daughter, do whatever you want.
02:24Following these events, the victim filed a formal complaint at Bidhar Women's Police Station.
02:31The FIR charges Pratik Chauhan with rape, criminal intimidation and assault.
02:36Police say the alleged assaults took place over several months and in multiple locations.
02:41Key evidence includes hotel stays, messages and witness statements.
02:46MLA Prabhu Johan, while addressing the media, alleged that former Bidhar MP and his party man, Bhagawan Khuba,
02:55was conspiring to finish him politically.
02:58He said, the girl was constantly chatting with and video calling others after her engagement with my son.
03:05I treated her like my own daughter and advised her accordingly.
03:10My son clearly told me he did not wish to proceed with the marriage.
03:14He has done nothing wrong.
03:16He further said that the complaint by the woman against my son is the latest ploy to damage my reputation.
03:22They misled the girl and pressured her to file the complaint.
03:26My son is just a pretext as I am their real target.
03:31He added that his son is not involved in any wrongdoing.
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