Film producer Govardhana Murthy faces rape charge

A 20-year-old woman has accused Bangalore-based realtor and film producer Govardhana Murthy of raping her at his farmhouse.

The girl, hailing from Ratnagiri  in Maharashtra, addressed a press meet here on Wednesday. The woman claimed that she came in contact with Murthy, while she was working as a waitress at a bar near Richmond Circle in Bangalore.

“Suresh, who helped me in getting the job at the bar, told me that Murthy would kill me if I did not give into his (Murthy’s) demand. Fearing for life, I went to Murthy’s farmhouse, where I was raped four times,” the woman said.

She said that several girls who got jobs with the help of Suresh had met with a similar fate, but were not coming forward to disclose it, fearing for life. The woman claimed that Murthy had been refusing to marry her, despite her demand.

V Mamatha, the State unit president of International Human Rights Association, at whose office the press meet was held, said that Murthy spoke to her on the phone and denied the allegations. She said the girl had approached the association seeking help and a complaint would soon be lodged with the SP.