New Delhi, August 11: The Congress has demanded the immediate sacking of Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain after he was accused of rape in Assam. Gohain has been booked by the Assam police on charges of rape, cheating and criminal intimidation. The FIR has been registered by the Nagaon police station, reports said on Friday. The Congress, in a press briefing on Friday, demanded the immediate resignation of the Union Minister.

"We demand from this government, from Prime Minister Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah to take immediate and strict action against rape accused Minister Rajen Gohain, the Minister of State for Railways," Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said.

Meanwhile, Gohain said that it was a conspiracy against him and such things erupt every time close to elections. "Every time I am about to contest elections, such conspiracies are plotted against me. This happened in 2016 & 2011 as well. Now again this has started. An investigation is underway. The truth will be revealed soon," he said.

Nagaon police station officer-in-charge Ananta Das, while confirming to news agency PTI that the woman has pleaded to withdraw the case, said that the law will take its own course and only quash the FIR after completing the probe. Meanwhile, local news channels in Assam also played audio clips of Gohain allegedly threatening the rape survivor's husband asking them not to file a complaint.

The case against the 67-year-old Minister was registered on August 2, confirmed Nagaon deputy superintendent of police (headquarter) Sabita Das. As per the complaint, Gohain has been booked under IPC sections 417 (cheating), 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

The complaint said that the alleged incident took place seven to eight months ago at the victim's home in Nagaon district. "Both Gohain and the woman knew each other for a long time and the Union minister used to visit her home,” the official said. The alleged rape was committed when the husband of the woman was not present at their home, Das added.

Gohain also filed complaints of blackmailing against the 24-year-old woman and her family, his officer on special duty Sanjiv Goswami said as quoted by PTI.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 11, 2018 11:36 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).