A 26-year-old woman in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district has accused a man of repeatedly sexually assaulting her on the pretext of marriage, leading to his arrest in the latest Raigarh rape case reported from the region. Police said the accused allegedly established physical relations with the woman for nearly one-and-a-half years after promising to marry her, but later refused when she became pregnant.

The case was registered at Tamnar police station after the survivor approached police earlier this week and detailed the allegations against the accused, identified as Prithviraj Chauhan, a resident of Saraidipa village in Raigarh district.

Relationship Turned Criminal

According to officials, the woman told police that she came in contact with Chauhan around two-and-a-half years ago. The two gradually developed a personal relationship, which later turned into an intimate one.

During the course of their relationship, the accused allegedly assured the woman that he would marry her and, on that basis, initiated physical relations with her. The woman alleged that Chauhan continued to sexually exploit her for nearly 18 months while repeatedly reinforcing the promise of marriage.

Police said the survivor stated in her complaint that she consented to the relationship because she believed the accused intended to marry her.

Pregnancy Triggered Dispute

The matter escalated when the woman informed Chauhan that she had become pregnant and asked him to formalise the relationship through marriage. According to the complaint, the accused initially avoided the conversation and continued to delay any decision.

As per police records, Chauhan later refused to marry her altogether. The woman then informed her family about the incident and approached police on their advice.

Investigators said the complaint was registered after preliminary verification, following which a case was filed under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to rape and deception.

Police Action Taken

Tamnar police moved swiftly after the complaint was filed and conducted a raid at the accused’s residence. Chauhan was taken into custody and formally arrested.

Police produced the accused before a local court, which remanded him to judicial custody. He has since been sent to jail, officials said.

Investigators indicated that further inquiry is underway and statements of those connected to the case are being recorded as part of the ongoing probe.

Officials Issue Warning

Raigarh Senior Superintendent of Police Shashi Mohan Singh said crimes involving women would be dealt with firmly and without delay. According to officials, the district police have been instructed to ensure swift and sensitive handling of such complaints.

He said offences involving sexual exploitation and false promises of marriage are treated as serious crimes and strict legal action would follow in every such case supported by evidence.

Officials also urged women facing similar abuse to report such incidents without hesitation.

Legal And Social Impact

The Raigarh rape case has again drawn attention to cases involving alleged sexual exploitation under the promise of marriage, an issue that continues to surface in crime reports across states. Legal experts have repeatedly underlined that consent obtained through deception can attract criminal liability if investigators establish fraudulent intent from the outset.

Such cases also raise concerns around delayed reporting, social stigma and the pressure survivors face before approaching law enforcement. Police officials said timely reporting remains critical for evidence collection and prosecution.

Investigation Continues

Police said the investigation remains active and further legal action will depend on medical evidence, witness statements and case documentation. Authorities are expected to file a detailed case diary before the court in the coming days.