Gurgaon deputy mayor booked for rape on marriage promise

Deputy mayor Parminder Kataria was booked for allegedly raping a 36-year-old single mother of two on the pretext of marriage, on Saturday evening.

Deputy mayor Parminder Kataria was booked for allegedly raping a 36-year-old single mother of two on the pretext of marriage, on Saturday evening.

File photo of Gurgaon deputy mayor.

The woman, in her complaint filed at a women’s police station here, further alleged that Kataria also promised her a job in the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG).

The woman accused Kataria, who is also a BJP party worker, of repeatedly harassing her sexually by making false promises of marriage and that two of his friends had even threatened her of dire consequences if she tried to complain to anyone. The charges against Kataria also include criminal intimidation.

The woman is a single mother of two and lives in Ashok Vihar. Kataria and the victim were in a live-in relationship for the past six months, revealed police sources. She had befriended Kataria a couple of years back when she used to visit the deputy mayor’s office for work.

“A case has been registered on the complaint of a lady against the deputy mayor of Gurgaon. The victim has alleged that deputy mayor raped her repeatedly by making false promises of marriage. She has also alleged that he along with two others have threatened her of dire consequences if she complains. The accused allegedly lured her with his powerful connections and offered a job to win her confidence,” said Deepak Saharan, deputy commissioner of police (east), Gurgaon.

Kataria’s phone was switched off and could not be contacted for a comment, despite many efforts. Meanwhile, the Haryana Youth Congress demanded his resignation and called for fair inquiry in the case. They also threatened to protest in Gurgaon if their demands were not met.

“The government has failed miserably over many issues including women’s safety. We demand immediate resignation of Parminder Kataria on moral grounds,” said Nalin Hooda, secretary, Haryana Youth Congress.

However, BJP state spokesperson Surajpal Ammu, said, “The law will take its course. FIR in the matter has been registered and truth will come out after police investigation.”