The Delhi Police has registered a case of rape and criminal intimidation against Congress president Sonia Gandhi's personal secretary PP Madhavan based on a complaint by a 26-year-old woman, officials said on Monday, 27 June.
The woman has alleged that the accused lured her on the pretext of providing her with a job and had promised marriage.
However, Madhavan has denied the allegations, calling the charges "false", adding that they are aimed at vilifying his image out of political vendetta.
"I have the evidence to demonstrate and establish that the complaint has been made in a pre-concerted manner in order to settle political vendetta and the present complaint is devoid of merits," Madhavan said in a statement.
A police officer said the victim was allegedly raped and threatened with dire consequences by the accused if she reported the matter.
Case Filed Under Sections 376, 506
"A complaint was received at the Uttam Nagar police station on 25 June. A case under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered. We are investigating the matter," said M Harsha Vardhan, Dwarka deputy commissioner of police.
He said the police were investigating the allegations levelled against a 71-year-old man who is working as a personal secretary to a senior political leader.
Though the DCP did not name the political leader, officials in the Delhi police said the allegations were levelled against Madhavan.
The officials said the woman lives in Delhi and her husband died in 2020. The husband used to work at the Congress party office, they said, adding that he used to affix hoardings.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)