21-year-old man held for sexually assaulting a woman in Dakshina Kannada

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada Women’s Police have nabbed 21-year-old man who had been on the run after a young woman filed a complaint accusing him of sexually assaulting and impregnating her.

According to the police, Krishna J Rao, son of Jagannivas Rao — a BJP leader and member of the Puttur City Municipal Council (CMC) was arrested in T Narsipur, Mysuru.

The accused had reportedly promised to marry the victim and developed a relationship with her. However, after she became pregnant, he allegedly refused to marry her.

The victim lodged a complaint at the Puttur Women’s Police Station on June 24, and gave birth on June 27. Following the filing of the FIR, the accused went into hiding.

The victim and the accused had been friends since school.

The case has since taken a political turn, with the Congress accusing the BJP and Sangh Parivar of remaining silent and failing to support the victim.

The SDPI also staged a protest in Puttur. Meanwhile, the victim’s mother appeared before the media, appealing for justice for her daughter.

On Friday, Puttur MLA Ashok Rai issued a two-day ultimatum to the police to arrest the accused.