Prafull Lodha was named as the alleged mastermind behind the 2022 operation, claiming he had close ties with senior BJP leaders, including Fadnavis. (File Photo)The Pimpri Chinchwad police in Pune have registered a case of rape against 62-year-old Praful Lodha, a native of Jalgaon district, who is at the eye of a political controversy in Maharashtra over “honeytrap” allegations. The case was registered based on the complaint of a 36-year-old who has alleged that Lodha — who is currently in custody of Mumbai police — raped her at a hotel in Pune by promising to give her husband a job.A First Information Report (FIR) in the case was registered on July 17 at Bavdhan police station under Pimpri Chinchwad jurisdiction against Lodha, who is a native of Jamner town in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra. The details of the case were shared by the police with the media on Tuesday.Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut made allegations on Monday that a honeytrap operation was used to bring down the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in 2022 and accused the BJP of orchestrating blackmail conspiracy involving videos of sitting MLAs and MPs. Raut alleged that Lodha was the mastermind of the “honeytrap operation”. Mumbai police had earlier arrested Lodha this month in connection with two cases registered against him on charges of sexual assault on two 16-year-old girls and a woman on the false promise of giving them jobs.“A case of rape has been registered against Prafull Lodha at Bavdhan police station on July 17. Investigation has been launched. The accused is currently in the custody of MIDC police station under Mumbai police. Offences against him have been registered at Sakinaka and MIDC police station in Mumbai.” said Senior Inspector Anil Vibhute, in-charge of the Bavdhan police station.”“The woman complainant has alleged that she was raped by the accused who promised a job to her husband. The incident took place on May 27, as per the complaint. We have immediately registered an offence after the complainant approached us.” Senior Inspector Vibhute added. The woman has said in her FIR that Lodha called her to a hotel in Pune on the night of May 27 promising a job for her husband and forcefully had physical relations with her. He threatened her that she will lose her job if she refused to have relations with him.“A procedure has been initiated to get custody of the accused from Mumbai police under a transfer warrant,” said Senior Inspector Vibhute. Police have booked Lodha under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 64 (rape) and 351 (Criminal intimidation).Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:sexual assault