Pune, Jul 22 (PTI) - Pune police have filed charges of rape against a man identified as Praful Lodha from Jalgaon, who is currently under arrest in Mumbai for reportedly sexually exploiting two minor girls and assaulting a woman under false pretenses of employment. The allegations were confirmed by officials on Tuesday.
A 23-year-old woman came forward with claims that Lodha invited her to a local hotel in Pune this May, promising employment for her husband and demanding sexual favors in return, according to a police official.
When the woman declined, it is alleged that Lodha threatened and subsequently raped her, an official from Bavdhan police station in Pimpri Chinchwad confirmed.
On July 17, a case was lodged against Lodha under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for charges of rape and criminal intimidation, with the investigation still ongoing.
Lodha, aged 62 and from Jalgaon in Maharashtra, reportedly maintains connections with various political figures. Earlier in the month, Mumbai police apprehended him for alleged sexual offenses against two 16-year-old girls and a woman on similar fake job promises.
Following his arrest, the authorities conducted searches on Lodha's properties located in Jalgaon, Jamner, and Pahur, confiscating a laptop, pen drive, and other electronic devices.
The Mumbai police have charged the accused under the corresponding sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut highlighted a photograph of Maharashtra BJP minister Girish Mahajan with Lodha on Monday.
In response, Mahajan stated that Lodha appears in photos with many political figures from different parties such as NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, party MLA Jayant Patil, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, and NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule.
The BJP leader insisted that appearing in a photograph with an individual does not suggest culpability in any crimes and criticized Raut for making baseless allegations.
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