Sadananda Gowda's son Karthik Gowda with the woman who has complained against him
Union Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda's son Karthik has been accused of rape, kidnapping and cheating by an actress who claims to be his wife.
The woman filed an FIR or police complaint hours after Karthik got engaged on Wednesday in Bangalore.
The woman claims she didn't go to the police or the media before as she believed Karthik would come around and publicly acknowledge that they had been married.
Karthik Gowda has denied her allegations and alleged a conspiracy to discredit his father and ruin his political career. "If you drag the son, the father will be shamed. That's all. It is all false," he said today.
Amid speculation that his son could be arrested for further investigation, the union minister said, "Take action against my son if he has done anything wrong. I would say the allegations against him as false. He is my son, but if the allegations are true then action can be taken."
In Congress-ruled Karnataka, the woman's allegations have been seized by Mr Gowda's rivals. Congress workers held a protest demanding Karthik's arrest.
State Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, "I cannot comment, won't comment. Law will take its own course."
The woman has claimed she met Karthik through a common friend. "How can he (Karthik) get engaged to another girl when he is already married to me?" she told local channels on Wednesday.