Bidar: FIR against BJP MLA's son

Bidar: The Bidar women’s police of Karnataka have registered a case of rape, assault, and criminal intimidation against Pratik Chauhan, son of BJP Prabhu Chauhan, based on a complaint filed by a 25-year-old woman from Maharashtra.

According to the FIR filed on Sunday, the woman alleged that she came into contact with Pratik through Instagram around two years ago. Their acquaintance turned into a relationship, and Pratik reportedly promised to marry her. He allegedly convinced her to come to Bengaluru on September 6, 2023, where he booked a room at a hotel and, after assuring her of marriage, raped her when she refused to engage in sexual activity before marriage.

The complaint stated that on November 13, 2023, Pratik, along with his uncle, met the woman’s parents and assured them of marriage. A formal engagement was held on December 25, 2023, at Pratik’s residence in Aurad. However, the marriage was postponed on the pretext of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and, later, the rainy season.

The woman alleged that Pratik repeatedly forced her into sexual acts on multiple occasions, taking her to hotels in Bengaluru, Latur, and Shirdi. One such incident occurred on May 13, 2024, when the woman, accompanied by her siblings, was taken to Shirdi. Two hotel rooms were booked, and Pratik allegedly forced himself on her again. On November 1, 2024, he allegedly assaulted her at her home, causing injuries. She was treated at a hospital in Udgir.

When her family approached Prateek’s family on July 5, 2025, to finalise the wedding date, they allegedly refused the proposal. Based on the woman’s complaint, police have booked Pratik Chauhan for rape, inducing a minor, causing hurt by dangerous means and criminal intimidation.

The victim addressed the media at a press conference in Bidar on Monday, where she narrated her ordeal in detail.

“On one hand, they say I am like their daughter, and on the other, they have defamed me — how is that fair?” she questioned. She urged Pratik Chauhan to come forward and clarify his stand on the issue. “The engagement has not been officially cancelled,” she said.

She alleged that Pratik had taken possession of one of her mobile phones during their relationship and continued to retain it.

MLA Prabhu Chauhan, who represents the Aurad constituency in Karnataka, told reporters that the wedding was called off after it was discovered that the girl was frequently chatting with another person. also claimed that both families, in the presence of community leaders, had mutually agreed to cancel the wedding in November 2024. He also expressed shock over the recent developments.

Chauhan further alleged that members of former Union Minister Bhagwanth Khuba’s team were attempting to tarnish his image.