Kolkata, Sep 6 (IANS) Police in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas have started an investigation against Trinamool Congress lawmaker from Canning (Paschim), Paresh Ram Das, following a complaint of rape filed against him.

A state police official said that the woman had lodged a complaint in the matter with the sub-division police officer (SDPO) of Canning, and on its basis, an investigation had been initiated by the Baruipur police.

In her complaint, the woman said that after the incident took place in 2023, she attempted to register a complaint with the police then only. However, she alleged that the police then refused to entertain her complaint and, in addition, she and her family members faced harassment from the Trinamool legislator and his associates for approaching the police.

Now, with the change in regime in West Bengal, she had acquired the courage to proceed in the matter again, she said.

The victim alleged that Das demanded Rs 4 lakh from her husband before the 2023 panchayat elections, promising to get him a ticket for the polls. The complainant claimed that when she went to the old age home set up by the MLA to deliver the money to him, as promised by her husband, she was subjected to physical harassment.

The victim alleged that after extorting Rs 4 lakh from her, the legislator locked her in her house and raped her. She also complained that even though she went to the Canning Police Station to file a complaint, no FIR was filed against the accused legislator.

In addition to that, the victim complained that Das and his associates attacked her house for approaching the police. She also alleged that his associates carried out a bomb attack on her house.

According to district police sources, the Canning Police Station has registered a rape case based on the woman’s complaint and started an investigation in the matter.

Das, however, has claimed that there was a conspiracy to tarnish his image and an attempt to implicate him in a false case.

–IANS

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