Nursing student alleges TDP legislator raped her

Hyderabad: The murder and rape case against a legislator of Andhra Pradesh's main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) yesterday took a new turn when another student of a nursing college run by him accused him of raping her.

The student along with four others and their parents, all hailing from Kerala, met Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy to complain against TDP legislator from Kovvur assembly constituency T.V. Rama Rao.

While one student said she was raped by the politician, another alleged that he had twice attempted to rape her. Talking to the media, the home minister identified the girls as students of TVR College of nursing in Nidadavolu town in West Godavari district.

"Three other students who were sharing a room with them in the college hostel came forward as witnesses. I have asked the girls to say whatever they have told me before CID [Criminal Investigation Department]," the minister said.

Since the case was handed over to the CID for investigations last week, the home minister asked the students to appear before CID officials and record their statements.

The students complained to the minister that the legislator locked them in a room and threatened them with dire consequences if they speak out after he was booked for murder and rape June 18. They said an associate of the legislator forcibly put them in a vehicle and sent them to Chennai.

They alleged that the rape and attempts to rape took place in March and April but they were afraid to speak out.

The home minister denied allegations by the TDP that the government was trying to implicate the legislator in a false case.