I didn8217;t rape her, I married her

MUMBAI, MARCH 16: The rape case involving Congress corporator Suryakant Chavan took a dramatic turn with the rape victim Jayshree Kolambe...

MUMBAI, MARCH 16: The rape case involving Congress corporator Suryakant Chavan took a dramatic turn with the rape victim Jayshree Kolambe claiming that she was never raped and had actually married Chavan secretly. Father of three kids, Chavan has also publicly accepted Jayshree as his second wife 8212; which now leaves him only with the issue of bigamy to tackle.

8220;My first wife does not object to this marriage,8221; said a much-relieved Chavan who was recently arrested and later released on bail over the rape charge. Chavan now alleges that he was framed by a Shiv Sena Member of Parliament MP.

In a statement issued today, Jayshree who now calls herself Mrs Shraddha Suryakant Chavan said that she was having an affair with Chavan for the last two years and that her mother was aware of it. 8220;On November 21, 1998, I decided to stay permanently with Chavan and left my home on my own,8221; the statement said. She added that she was aware that Chavan was married and had three children from his first wife. She hasgiven a similar statement to the Nirmal Nagar police.

Giving a blow-by-blow account of the events that led to Chavan8217;s arrest, Jayshree said on November 22 her mother lodged a complaint with Nirmal Nagar police station against Chavan. 8220;I visited the police station along with Chavan and the police recorded my statement. On being satisfied that I left home on my own, the police allowed me to go,8221; she said. Between November 21 and February 7 she stayed with Chavan who rented a room in her name at Kalina.

On February 6, she was visited by two of her aunts and neighbours informing her that her mother had taken ill. Jayshree went to see her mother that very day but returned home at night. The next day when she visited her mother again, she was not allowed to go back home and forced to lodge a complaint of rape against Chavan by her mother. 8220;My mother threatened me that if I did not obey her she would commit suicide. I lodged the complaint under heavy pressure,8221; she said.

Chavan, meanwhile, alleges that hewas framed by a Shiv Sena MP after he supported the BMC in carrying out a road widening drive in Golibar area. Chavan, however, did not reveal the name of the MP.

Congress leader in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Kisan Jadhav today said that he was waiting for instructions from the high command to reinstate Chavan in the party. Chavan was suspended from the party two days after he was arrested.

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However, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party BJP corporator wanted to know how could a Hindu go for a second marriage without divorcing his first wife. 8220;Was it a court marriage, or a marriage of convenience?8221; he questioned.