A rape FIR has been lodged against Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni after a 34-year-old woman filed a complaint with the Sanjaynagar police on Tuesday, accusing him of sexual harassment. The FIR names Kulkarni as Accused 1 (A1) and his aide Arjun as Accused 2 (A2).
According to the woman’s complaint, she first met the MLA in 2022, after which he obtained her phone number and began calling her, late at night. Over time, Kulkarni allegedly made a video call while naked and pressured her to visit his house in Hebbal. When she refused, she claimed a group of rowdies threatened her.
In April, Kulkarni reportedly called her to Belagavi, where he hugged her and attempted to harass her, but stopped when visitors arrived. On August 24, after a meeting with the then CM Basavaraj Bommai, she said Kulkarni coerced her into visiting his house.
Later, the MLA allegedly took her to a residence on IVC Road near Devanahalli airport, where he raped her. They met again in Haveri in September 2022, where the MLA took her phone, and a conversation between the two was later leaked. Kulkarni suspected her of leaking it, and when she denied it, Arjun allegedly took her to a secluded location where Kulkarni assaulted her.
On October 2, the MLA allegedly raped her again near Dharmasthala. The next day, they visited the temple, where he warned her not to reveal their relationship, citing his involvement in a murder case. He then instructed Arjun to take her back to Bengaluru.
The police have filed a case under IPC Sections 506, 504, 201, 366, 376, 323, and 354, as well as under the IT Act. Investigations are ongoing.
