Palghar Man Booked for Raping Two Sisters, on the Run, BJP Raises 'Love Jihad'

Police in Maharashtra’s Palghar district have registered a case against a 22-year-old man for allegedly raping a woman and her minor sister , officials said on Sunday.

According to police, the complaint was filed by the victims, following which an FIR was registered on June 1 under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act . Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dahanu) Ankita Kanse confirmed that charges of rape and molestation have been invoked and that two police teams have been formed to trace the absconding accused.

Further details of the case have not been disclosed by the police, citing the ongoing investigation .

The case has also triggered political reactions. BJP MLC Chitra Wagh visited the Dahanu police station and later alleged that the incident was linked to what she described as “love jihad” , a term used by some right-wing groups to claim a conspiracy involving the targeting of Hindu women for conversion through relationships. These claims, however, remain politically contested and are not established findings of the investigation.

Wagh also alleged the existence of a wider network involving trafficking and misuse of student visas , and called for stricter legal measures, including adoption of a “Gujarat pattern” requiring parental notification in inter-faith or inter-caste marriages. She further claimed that several families had approached her with similar concerns, though she did not provide evidence for these assertions.

Police have not confirmed any link between the present case and the allegations raised by the BJP leader. Authorities said the investigation is continuing and efforts are on to apprehend the accused.