Shiv Sena's Raghunath Kuchik Booked For Rape, Forceful Abortion

Shiv Sena leader Raghunath Kuchik has been booked for allegedly raping a woman and forcing her for abortion, reports said Thursday. According to police officials in Pune, Kuchik made false promises of marriage to the 24-year-old survivor, sexually assaulting her against that pretext on multiple occasions between 2020 and 2021.

Police received a complaint from the woman Wednesday night, after which a First Information Report (FIR) was filed in the matter at Shivajinagar Police Station, news agency ANI reported. Kuchik was booked under sections 376 and 313, which relate to rape and miscarriage without woman's consent.

As per his bio, Kuchik is the Deputy Leader of the Maharashtra-centric party and is also in position as the Chairman of the Minimum Wages Advisory Committee with the state government.

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The complainant alleged Kuchik raped her in different locations, including at posh hotels in Pune and Goa. Their alliance allegedly resulted in pregnancy. Reports suggest Kuchik also threatened to kill the woman if she told anyone about it. The politician is also charged with criminal intimidation.

As quoted by Indian Express, a senior inspector said "teams are being dispatched for his arrest."

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A similar case emerged last year when former All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK ) leader Manikandan faced action after a female actor alleged he raped her and forced her to terminate a pregnancy. A Malaysian woman made claims of a sexual alliance with the Tamil Nadu politician over five years.

She appeared on camera to present purported proof of their relationships, through chats, photos and other documents. In her complaint, she said Manikandan coerced her on the pretext of marriage. The woman alleged Manikandan had left his wife for her. More on the case here.

He was arrested but granted bail in July 2021.