india

Updated: May 23, 2018 19:28 IST

A local BJP leader was arrested for allegedly raping a woman at a lodge in Varanasi on Tuesday, police said.

The alleged incident took place when the 32-year-old woman went to meet Kanhaiya Lal Mishra, the former president of the BJP’s Bhadohi district unit, at the lodge in Englishia Line.

Police said the woman alleged that Mishra called her to the lodge promising to set up a meeting with a woman government officer for a job. The victim who was acquainted with Mishra and had been in touch with him on phone for a couple of months, then agreed to go to the lodge.

The woman alleged that when she entered the room, Mishra, who is believed to be in his early 50s, sexually assaulted her.

“She resisted and raised an alarm which drew other guests at the lodge to outside Mishra’s room. She dialled the emergency police response system and the others informed Sigra police,” said a police officer.

Police said that they reached the spot and took Mishra to the police station.

“A case was registered against Kanhaiya Lal Mishra under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code following a complaint by the woman and he was arrested,” said Inspector Satish Singh, the station officer of Sigra police station.

He said the woman was sent for medical examination.

Mishra’s arrest is likely to embarrass the BJP further in Uttar Pradesh after the party came under fire last month after one of its MLAs Kuldeep Sengar was arrested for allegedly raping a minor in Unnao. The case is being probed by the CBI.