india

Updated: May 20, 2019 15:29 IST

A legislator of the ruling Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) has been charged with raping a woman and cheating her with a promise of marriage, police said on Monday, which was denied by the leader.

The case was filed by the victim against MLA Dhananjoy Tripura on Sunday at Mandwai police station in West Tripura district. He is an MLA from the Raima Valley constituency in Dhalai district of the northeastern state. The case was forwarded to East Agartala women’s police station late in the evening.

Police sources said the complainant mentioned in the FIR that Dhananjoy Tripura was in an intimate relationship with her for years and had promised to marry her. But, later, the legislator reportedly refused to marry her.

“We got the case late last night (Sunday). We took charge under Section 417/376 of Indian Penal Code. An investigation is on,” said an on-duty officer of the women’s police station.

Dhananjoy Tripura said while speaking to the media that it was an attempt by the opposition parties to malign his image.

“This is a false allegation. This is a ploy of the oppositions to malign me and the government. I will knock the door of High Court on the issue,” Tripura said.

IPFT is alliance partner of the ruling BJP since last year in the state.