FIR against ex-BRS MLA Rega Kantha Rao over marriage promise allegations
Former BRS MLA Rega Kantha Rao has been booked after a 22-year-old woman alleged he sexually exploited her on the false promise of marriage, blackmailed her with private photos, and intimidated her between 2022 and 2025.
An FIR has been registered against former BRS MLA Rega Kantha Rao over allegations of sexual exploitation of a 22-year-old woman on the promise of marriage, police said on Friday.
The case was registered following a complaint filed by the woman on July 26. Police said the FIR was lodged under Section 69 for sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means and Section 351(2) for criminal intimidation.
In her complaint, the woman said she met Rao in 2022 during an interview when she was 18 and working in the media sector. She alleged that Rao called her to work on developing a social media channel, but forced her into a sexual relationship by promising marriage.
She said she and Rao later lived together in a flat in Hyderabad. Soon after, she alleged, Rao took her private pictures and blackmailed her when she refused to meet him. She claimed that the physical relationship continued till 2025.
The woman also alleged that Rao took Rs 4 lakh from her, saying he would invest the money in real estate and return double the amount. She said he later began avoiding her and stopped responding to her phone calls.
Earlier in 2026, she said, she met a person handling Rao's social media, who told her that one of Rao's close associates would return the money. According to her complaint, the associate, a contractor, first sent her Rs 5 lakh and later another Rs 3.50 lakh. She said that while she had received her money back, her main concern was that she had been cheated in the name of marriage.
Rao, a former MLA from Pinapaka in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, could not be reached immediately for comment. The case centres on the woman's allegations of sexual exploitation, blackmail and intimidation, as well as her claim that she was deceived with a promise of marriage.
An FIR has been registered against former BRS MLA Rega Kantha Rao over allegations of sexual exploitation of a 22-year-old woman on the promise of marriage, police said on Friday.
The case was registered following a complaint filed by the woman on July 26. Police said the FIR was lodged under Section 69 for sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means and Section 351(2) for criminal intimidation.
In her complaint, the woman said she met Rao in 2022 during an interview when she was 18 and working in the media sector. She alleged that Rao called her to work on developing a social media channel, but forced her into a sexual relationship by promising marriage.
She said she and Rao later lived together in a flat in Hyderabad. Soon after, she alleged, Rao took her private pictures and blackmailed her when she refused to meet him. She claimed that the physical relationship continued till 2025.
The woman also alleged that Rao took Rs 4 lakh from her, saying he would invest the money in real estate and return double the amount. She said he later began avoiding her and stopped responding to her phone calls.
Earlier in 2026, she said, she met a person handling Rao's social media, who told her that one of Rao's close associates would return the money. According to her complaint, the associate, a contractor, first sent her Rs 5 lakh and later another Rs 3.50 lakh. She said that while she had received her money back, her main concern was that she had been cheated in the name of marriage.
Rao, a former MLA from Pinapaka in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, could not be reached immediately for comment. The case centres on the woman's allegations of sexual exploitation, blackmail and intimidation, as well as her claim that she was deceived with a promise of marriage.
An FIR has been registered against former BRS MLA Rega Kantha Rao over allegations of sexual exploitation of a 22-year-old woman on the promise of marriage, police said on Friday.
The case was registered following a complaint filed by the woman on July 26. Police said the FIR was lodged under Section 69 for sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means and Section 351(2) for criminal intimidation.
In her complaint, the woman said she met Rao in 2022 during an interview when she was 18 and working in the media sector. She alleged that Rao called her to work on developing a social media channel, but forced her into a sexual relationship by promising marriage.
She said she and Rao later lived together in a flat in Hyderabad. Soon after, she alleged, Rao took her private pictures and blackmailed her when she refused to meet him. She claimed that the physical relationship continued till 2025.
The woman also alleged that Rao took Rs 4 lakh from her, saying he would invest the money in real estate and return double the amount. She said he later began avoiding her and stopped responding to her phone calls.
Earlier in 2026, she said, she met a person handling Rao's social media, who told her that one of Rao's close associates would return the money. According to her complaint, the associate, a contractor, first sent her Rs 5 lakh and later another Rs 3.50 lakh. She said that while she had received her money back, her main concern was that she had been cheated in the name of marriage.
Rao, a former MLA from Pinapaka in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, could not be reached immediately for comment. The case centres on the woman's allegations of sexual exploitation, blackmail and intimidation, as well as her claim that she was deceived with a promise of marriage.
