Ranchi businessman arrested after BJP worker alleges rape, ₹1.5cr cheating

Raipur: A rape and cheating case involving a BJP’s woman functionary from Bilaspur has turned into a high-profile legal and political controversy after police arrested a Ranchi-based businessman, after the accused released a video claiming he was being framed after demanding return of money allegedly paid for a coal mine deal.The accused businessman from Ranchi in Jharkhand, was arrested by Bilaspur police and brought to the city on Friday, where he was produced before court and sent to judicial remand.Bilaspur police said that an FIR was registered at Civil Lines police station on May 14 following a complaint by the woman worker. The case includes charges of rape, extortion, cheating and criminal intimidation.SSP Rajnesh Singh said police are examining mobile phone chats, call records, financial transactions and documents linked to the case. “There were transactions running into crores through a partnership firm. The woman has alleged physical exploitation and continued threats. Legal action is being taken,” the SSP said.As per the complaint, the woman met the alleged accused in Delhi nearly two years ago. He introduced himself as a major industrialist and persuaded her to invest in a mining business, promising high profits and partnership. Police said she alleged that she invested more than ₹1.5 crore after being assured of double returns.The complainant said that on Sept 15, 2025, while travelling from Raipur to Bilaspur, the man had sent his driver away on some pretext and raped her at a secluded spot before leaving her on the road. She later returned to Bilaspur in an autorickshaw, police said, based on the complaint.However, the case took a fresh turn after the accused arrest when a video purportedly released by him surfaced on social media. In the video, he claimed the allegations were false and accused the woman of using political influence to trap him.He counter alleged that the woman had promised to help him secure coal mine allocation through her political contacts and had taken around ₹80 lakh from him. He claimed that after the work did not materialise, he demanded his money and vehicle back, following which he was blocked and later booked in a rape case.Police sources said the investigation is also looking into the business relationship between the two, their travel history, hotel stays, family-level contact and alleged transactions after the date of the reported assault.Officials said the matter remains under investigation and allegations of both will be examined.