Delhi Police files FIR for rape against LJP MP Prince Raj

The Delhi Police on Tuesday registered an FIR under provisions of rape against Bihar's Samastipur Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) MP Prince Raj, and charges of conspiracy against LJP leader Chirag Paswan, multiple media reports claimed on Tuesday. Prince Raj is Paswan's cousin; Raj is the son of late Ram Chandra Paswan, brother to LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan.

Quoting the complainant, The Indian Express had identified her as a former party operative who alleged that Raj had mixed intoxicants in her water and raped her while she was unconscious.

Paswan was accused of attempting to hush up the allegations.

In June, Raj had addressed some of the allegations via a Twitter post. He had stated that he categorically denies all the allegations, and the claims are blatantly false, fabricated and defamatory. "Such attempts have been made before by the same woman along with her fiance. In February 2021, I had filed a police complaint against the woman and her fiance," he wrote.

The incident comes amid political churn in the LJP in Bihar. Chirag, who has been cornered in his own party, following a split engineered by uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, is considering an alliance with opposition RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Prince Raj was among those MPs who turned against Paswan.