CHITRADURGA, 11 MAY 

BJP leader and advocate G Devaraje Gowda, arrested for alleged molestation and rape, was on Saturday taken to Holenarasipura in Hassan district, where the incident had allegedly taken place, for questioning, police said.

An FIR was registered against Gowda on a complaint by a 36-year-old woman from Hassan district, who alleged that he molested and raped her on the pretext of helping her sell her property. A case of molestation was registered against Gowda on 1 April. On Friday, the woman once again approached police and alleged that she was also raped by him, a police officer told PTI.

The BJP leader was arrested at Gulihal toll gate by Hiriyur Police in Chitradurga district late on Friday night. He was arrested on a tip-off by Hassan Police.

Holenarasipur police arrived in Chitradurga on Saturday morning. After the legal process, the Hiriyur police handed over Devaraje Gowda to Holenarasipura police.

Gowda had unsuccessfully contested the 2023 Assembly election on the BJP ticket and was defeated by JD(S) MLA and former minister HD Revanna. He had also claimed that he alerted the BJP leadership last year about Prajwal Revanna's alleged sexual abuse of several women, and cautioned the saffron party not to give a Lok Sabha ticket to the JD(S) MP from Hassan. -PTI