A deputy collector posted in the Morena district of Madhya Pradesh has been booked on Thursday after a woman accused him of allegedly exploiting her sexually on the pretext of marriage, the police said. The development has reignited debate over the conduct of public service officials and the misuse of positions of authority.

The police registered a First Information Report (FIR) after a woman approached them and filed a complaint. She alleged that the accused officer repeatedly established physical relations with her by promising to marry her, but reneged on his words later and allegedly threatened her family when she sought legal recourse.

The accused officer, meanwhile, has not responded to the allegations. Police said the case is being probed and further action will depend on the findings.

Woman befriended officer through social media

The complaint mentioned that the woman stumbled upon the officer through the social media application, Facebook. Their interaction gradually developed into regular conversations over the phone, eventually assuming the form of a serious relationship.

Civil Lines Police Station House Officer (SHO) Udaybhan Yadav said the officer allegedly proposed the woman for marriage, which she accepted. The complainant then alleged that the assurance of marriage formed the basis of her trust in the officer. She said he took her to a rest house in Morena on March 30, 2025, where he allegedly established physical relations with her against her wishes.

Survivor violated on several other occasions

In her statement to the cops, the survivor detailed her ordeal, claiming that she faced similar incidents at the hands of the officer in Sabalgarh and Gwalior cities on other occasions. According to the FIR, the woman was violated from March 30, 2025 to June 3, 2026.

Following this, when the survivor pressed the officer for marriage, he refused and allegedly threatened her family members with life if she pursued legal proceedings. The police have invoked Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which relates to sexual intercourse obtained through deceitful means, including false promises of marriage.

SHO Yadav said decisions regarding the officer’s arrest would be taken after discussion with senior police officials, as the probe advances.

Previous allegations under scrutiny too

Notably, the case has gained additional traction because the deputy collector had faced disciplinary action earlier. Officials revealed he was suspended in September 2025 after allegations of his inappropriate behaviour with women surfaced. While the details of the matter remain separate from the current case, the earlier action has once again fallen under public scrutiny.