NCP lawmaker charged with rape, sent to three-day police custody

Nasik, Feb 27 (ANI): A Nasik Court on Sunday sent Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Dilip Wagh, who has been arrested following accusations of raping a 22-year-old woman, to three-days in police custody.

The anti-extortion cell of Nasik city crime branch detained Wagh, the MLA from Pachora constituency in Maharashtra, on Saturday. He had gone missing after an FIR was registered against him.

Acting on a complaint filed by the rape victim on Friday, the state police force has detained the Wagh and his personal assistant, Mahesh Mali, co- accused in the crime.

"On February 25, 2011, on the complaint of a woman, a case against Dilip Wagh and his personal assistant, Mahesh Mali in Nasik police station under the section 506 and 376 has been registered and they have been arrested. We are investigating the case," said Ganesh Shinde, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Nasik.

According to media reports, the police has booked Wagh and Mali for allegedly raping a woman in a state guesthouse in Nasik on February 21 after calling her for a job interview.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that a case has been registered against Wagh and the truth will only be revealed if the investigation is completed.

"Dilip Wagh says that there is a conspiracy against me. The truth will come out when police completes the investigation. A compliant has been registered and investigation is going on. After the investigation if the allegations are found out to be false then the case would be taken back," said Pawar.

"We just know about the girl's statement that rape has been attempted. The investigation is going on and party has taken action and when the investigation completes then if Wagh is innocent then case will be taken back," he added.

The NCP has suspended Dilip Wagh following the incident. (ANI)