Woman Alleges Jana Sena MLA Raped Her, Forced Her To Abort. He Denies Charge

A prominent political figure, Jana Sena MLA Arava Sridhar, finds himself at the center of grave allegations following claims by a woman of sustained sexual assault, coercion, and forced abortions spanning over a year. The woman, who is reportedly a government employee, has come forward with a detailed video statement asserting that the exploitation began shortly after Sridhar's election to the Railway Koduru constituency in 2024.

According to the complainant, the alleged abuse commenced with her being taken to secluded locations where the assaults reportedly occurred. She further detailed a harrowing period of alleged torture and threats, claiming she underwent five abortions within the last year alone. The woman stated that these extreme measures were forced upon her under the pretext of marriage, a promise she alleges the MLA made repeatedly. In a particularly distressing revelation, she also accused Sridhar of attempting to manipulate her personal life by contacting her husband to pressure him into a divorce.

The woman recounted a chilling exchange regarding the forced abortions. “He said that if you get an abortion, you will survive, your family will be fine, and your job will be fine; otherwise, you know about me,” she stated in her video testimony. She further added, “I argued that I will not get an abortion under any circumstances. He threatened me for two or three days and later gave me assurance. Okay, divorce your husband, and I will marry you.” These statements paint a stark picture of alleged psychological manipulation and intimidation.

In response to these serious accusations, Arava Sridhar has vehemently denied all charges. In his own video statement, the legislator dismissed the claims as “false propaganda” and attributed them to “deepfake videos” circulated with malicious intent. He challenged his detractors to provide any evidence of wrongdoing from his past, highlighting his three-year tenure as Sarpanch from 2021.

“I directly ask those behind this: I served as a Sarpanch for three years from 2021. During my tenure, can anyone in my village, neighboring panchayats, or the entire mandal prove that Sridhar has ever done anything wrong or is a bad person?” Sridhar questioned, seeking to defend his character and public service record. He further asserted his dedication to public service, stating, “Today, I am walking in the footsteps of our Jana Sena Party president and Deputy Chief Minister, Pawan Kalyan garu. Inspired by his dedication to public service, I am working for the people of my constituency, Railway Kodur, trying to emulate at least 1% of his commitment. Yet, such false campaigns have been launched against me.”

Sridhar also claimed to have been subjected to harassment for the past six months and revealed that his mother had previously filed a police complaint regarding the matter. He vowed to identify and pursue legal action through the courts against those responsible for what he describes as a deliberate attempt to malign his reputation.

The Andhra Pradesh Women's Commission has taken immediate cognizance of the incident, with Chairperson Rayapati Sailaja reportedly speaking to the alleged victim over the phone to understand the gravity of the situation. While there has been no immediate official reaction from law enforcement agencies, the unfolding events have cast a significant shadow over the political landscape, sparking widespread public interest and demands for a thorough and impartial investigation into the serious allegations and counter-allegations.