Kolkata, Jan 27 (NationPress) A official from the land reforms department of the West Bengal government has been taken into custody on allegations of rape, as confirmed by the police on Tuesday.

The incident reportedly occurred in Sonarpur, located in the South 24 Parganas district, and the individual apprehended has been identified as Amit Dey.

According to reports, the alleged assault transpired in 2019 when the victim was still a minor. It is claimed that the incident was documented on a mobile device and that the video was recently employed to blackmail the victim.

It has come to light that the young woman had her marriage recently arranged, but the accused objected to this. He allegedly began to threaten her with the video of the assault in an effort to obstruct her marriage.

Eventually, the victim and her family sought assistance from law enforcement, leading to a formal complaint being lodged at the Sonarpur Police Station. Based on this complaint, police arrested the accused on Monday night.

Sources from the police indicate that the young woman’s father, a plumber, had previously worked at Amit Dey's residence in 2019. Through this connection, the victim became acquainted with the land reforms official, even referring to him as 'uncle' due to their familial ties.

Reports suggest that the accused lured the teenage girl to a secluded area under the guise of a trip, where he allegedly assaulted her. He not only recorded the incident but also intimidated her into silence, threatening severe repercussions if she disclosed the matter to anyone. Furthermore, he purportedly blackmailed her, threatening to share the video and her photos on social media.

Upon learning about the young woman's fixed marriage, he voiced his objections and even visited the prospective groom's household. After the incident became known, the marriage was subsequently called off.

Following this, the victim filed a formal complaint at the police station on Monday, leading to the apprehension of Amit Dey later that night.

It is reported that the arrested individual has a wife and children.

Given that the victim was a minor during the assault, a case has been filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, according to initial findings.

"A case has been lodged against the government official. He has been arrested and will be presented in court later today. The police plan to seek his custody for further inquiry," stated a senior officer from the Baruipur Police District.