A 38-year-old Navy official has been arrested in Kottayam on charges of raping a woman, police said Sunday.
The woman’s father had lodged a complaint with the police, alleging that the Navy officer raped his daughter after making a false promise to marry her.
Murali Kumar, a chief petty officer of Navy in Mumbai, was arrested and remanded in judicial custody on Saturday, police said.
He has also been charged under the SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act.
The victim in her early 20’s alleged that Kumar raped her when she had gone to meet him at a hotel in Kottayam last week.
He had allegedly invited her to the hotel room, police said.
The incident came to light when the woman was admitted to a private hospital near Kottayam, police said.
Kumar, a two-time Mr Asia title holder and eight-time Mr India title winner, allegedly befriended the woman through social media.
Police said they would file a report with naval authorities on the incident.