Local leader of India’s ruling party arrested for rape after getting filmed kissing woman in bus

NEW DELHI, July 5 (Xinhua) — A local level leader of India’s ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) was arrested on charges of rape after getting filmed forcing himself on a woman in a moving bus and kissing her, police said Wednesday.

The leader was identified as Ravindra Bawanthade from Chandrapur district of Maharashtra state.

The video was circulated widely, following which the woman complained to police about the incident.

“He has been arrested for raping and outraging the modesty of a woman,” a police official said.

Reports said the BJP leader was returning from Nagpur to Gadchiroli last week when the incident was recorded on the CCTV camera of the bus.

The accused had reportedly lured the 19-year-old victim on promises of providing her a job.

Local media reports said two bus conductors and the driver found the objectionable video recorded with the CCTV camera of the bus. They allegedly recorded a video of the clip on their phones and circulated on social media.

Police have also arrested bus conductors and driver for sharing the video.