Shiv Sena UBT leader arrested in rape case, party suspects political conspiracy

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar district, Kiran Kale, was arrested on rape charges, sparking a political storm, with the party alleging a conspiracy behind the timing of the arrest, as Mr. Kale recently exposed an alleged ₹400-crore scam in civic road projects.

Mr. Kale was arrested after midnight and booked under sections related to rape under BNS. “The woman filed rape cases citing several incidents, with the prominent one being in 2023. We have received a four-day police custody of him to investigate the case from all angles,” Superintendent of Ahilyanagar Somnath Gharge told The Hindu.

The 21-year-old woman from Karjat filed a complaint on Monday at the Kotwali police station in Ahilyanagar. In the complaint, she claimed that Mr. Kale sexually assaulted her between 2023 and 2024 on the pretext of offering help with her marital disputes. The complaint has raised suspicions among the Opposition party as the arrest occurred days after Mr. Kale made headlines by alleging irregularities in civic road works within the city, involving rival NCP leaders. He accused Ahilyanagar Municipal Corporation of corruption amounting to ₹400 crore, involving 776 road works. He reportedly also presented evidence suggesting embezzlement of public funds.

Shiv Sena (UBT) has demanded an investigation as they claim that this is a “conspiracy” to falsely implicate Mr. Kale. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut defended Mr. Kale and said, “Eight days back, he revealed the road scam and IT park fraud associated with NCP MLA Sangram Jagtap, along with the evidence. All government is doing is charging him with false cases to suppress his voice.”

Mr. Raut asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis whether the Opposition has no right to protest or oppose the wrongdoings of the government, and what kind of law is this, saying Sangram Jagtap tried to frame our former Mayor as well.

Condemning the arrest, NCP- SP Ahilyanagar MP Nilesh Lanke said, “Using political dictatorship to shut out people who are bringing scams of municipalities in the public domain, then this is not right. I request that the police administration should verify before taking complaints, and not succumb to political pressure.

Meanwhile, MLA Sangram Jagtap, speaking to The Hindu, has dismissed all the allegations and called it a political gimmick ahead of local body elections. “These claims have no substance. Does Ahilyanagar’s Municipal corporation even have so much funds for road concretisation?” said Mr. Jagtap, saying he has nothing to do with Mr. Kale.