A sarpanch, who had allegedly raped a 32-year-old married woman in Jajpur district on March 31, was arrested on Tuesday.
The accused, Tapas Ray, Sarpanch of Majhipada Gram Panchayat under Balichandrapur police station, was apprehended from a house at Chandikhola following a raid in his hideout, said Balichandrapur police station IIC Rakesh Tripathy.
The arrested Sarpanch had allegedly raped the victim on March 31 night in his house at Majhipada village. The victim woman had filed a FIR in the police station on April1.
After committing the rape, the accused managed to flee from the village. The offender was booked under IPC Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation), added the police officer.
The accused was produced in a local court on Tuesday and after his bail plea was rejected, he was remanded in jail custody.