The allegation comes three weeks after Congress workers ransacked the nursing college in Nidadavolu town in West Godavari district, accusing the MLA of raping and murdering a nursing student. Though SP B Balakrishna visited the college and, after assuring himself that none of the girls were missing, gave a clean chit to the MLA, the state government handed over the investigation to the CID.

On June 18, Kovvur police detained Rao after a complaint was lodged by Congress worker David Raju, but released him after nothing was found against the MLA.

However, on Saturday, a student of the nursing college along with four others and their parents, all from Kerala, met the Home Minister and alleged that the MLA had raped her. “One student complained that the MLA raped her while her roommate alleged that he had twice attempted to rape her,” an official in the Home Ministry said.

Talking to The Sunday Express, Home Minister Reddy said: “The girl said she was in Chennai since three weeks after the incident and that she was sent there by someone known to the MLA. I’ve asked her and her friends to give their statements to the CID.”

“The girl who alleged rape and three of her roommates alleged that they were locked in the library room and threatened with dire consequences if they complained,” an official said.

Rao, who is on a fast in protest, said the government was cooking up a case against him. “I will die if these allegations are proved right. Why would I do such a thing in my own college which I built out of sheer hard work? This is a conspiracy to malign and ruin my political career,” Rao said.