An FIR has been filed against Prateek Chauhan, son of Karnataka BJP MLA Prabhu Chauhan, after a woman accused him of repeated rape, criminal intimidation, and assault under the false promise of marriage. According to the complaint, the victim, engaged to Prateek on December 25, 2023, alleges she was sexually exploited across several cities—including Bengaluru, Latur, and Shirdi—and threatened each time she refused. The family’s final attempt to fix a wedding date ended in outright rejection by the accused. Watch.
00:00A BJP Karnataka MLA Prabhu Chauhan is at the center of a controversy.
00:07His son Pratik Chauhan has been booked on serious charges of rape.
00:11What are the facts and what's the latest on this case?
00:15Here is a look at the unfolding drama.
00:30Prabhu Chauhan is a well-known figure in Karnataka's political landscape, serving as an MLA and a former minister.
00:42His son Pratik Chauhan in his late 20s was until now largely away from the limelight.
00:48All that changed when the Bidhar women's police station registered an FIR against him based on allegations of sexual assault by a 25-year-old woman from near Utgir city in Maharashtra.
01:01According to the police complaint, the woman alleges a harrowing series of events.
01:07The two became engaged on 25 December 2023.
01:11The engagement attended by both families in Bidhar was meant to formalize their future together.
01:18The complainant claims that after their engagement, Pratik repeatedly raped her in various locations under the pretext of travel,
01:25including private hotels in Bengaluru, Lathur in Maharashtra and Shirdi, often citing future marriage as a promise.
01:33Whenever she refused, he allegedly threatened to call off the wedding.
01:37At least three times, she says, he took her to Lathur for sexual acts using emotional blackmail, threats and force.
01:46The complaint alleged that on one occasion, after coercing her to prove her love,
01:50the accused forced the victim to self-inflict a wound on her forearm.
01:55When she hesitated, he allegedly took the blade and caused a deep cut himself.
02:00The matter came to light after the woman was taken to a hospital in Utgir for treatment.
02:05On 5 July 2025, the woman and her family visited Pratik's home to finalize the wedding date.
02:14There, the atmosphere turned confrontational, with the Chauhan family allegedly refusing the match and telling them,
02:20we won't marry your daughter, do whatever you want.
02:24Following these events, the victim filed a formal complaint at Bidhar Women's Police Station.
02:31The FIR charges Pratik Chauhan with rape, criminal intimidation and assault.
02:36Police say the alleged assaults took place over several months and in multiple locations.
02:41Key evidence includes hotel stays, messages and witness statements.
02:46MLA Prabhu Johan, while addressing the media, alleged that former Bidhar MP and his party man, Bhagawan Khuba,
02:55was conspiring to finish him politically.
02:58He said, the girl was constantly chatting with and video calling others after her engagement with my son.
03:05I treated her like my own daughter and advised her accordingly.
03:10My son clearly told me he did not wish to proceed with the marriage.
03:14He has done nothing wrong.
03:16He further said that the complaint by the woman against my son is the latest ploy to damage my reputation.
03:22They misled the girl and pressured her to file the complaint.
03:26My son is just a pretext as I am their real target.
03:31He added that his son is not involved in any wrongdoing.
