Shiv Sena Navi Mumbai District Chief Vijay Chougule
Vijay Chougule, the district chief of the Shiv Sena in Navi Mumbai, has been accused of rape by a 26-year-old woman. A case has been registered under section 376, 506 and other sections of the Indian Penal Code at the CBD Belapur police station. The complainant alleges that Mr Chougule has been raping her since 2008.
Shahaji Umap, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone I, Navi Mumbai told reporters, "The case was registered yesterday and we are investigating it. We will further comment on it once we record statements of witnesses. The victim was a dancer and according to her, she was threatened and raped by the accused since 2008."
The Navi Mumbai police have arrested an accomplice, Tanaji Surve, in connection with the incident. The police are on the lookout for Mr Chougule but he has not yet been traced.
Mr Chougule had contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 and lost to Sanjeev Naik of the NCP. In the recently-held Assembly elections, Mr Chougule contested from the Airoli constituency in Navi Mumbai but lost here too. This time, his loss was to Sandeep Naik of the NCP.