Bengaluru: A 25-year-old homemaker has alleged that she was raped several times by a Haveri businessman in a lodge at Cottonpet in Bengaluru, and also at his relative's house in Tumakuru district.

Stating that the rape took place several times in the past few months, the woman filed a case against the businessman, Marikumar Shankar Karadagi with the Haveri Rural police who then transferred the case to Cottonpet for further probe on October 30.

Cottonpet police said the woman met Marikumar at Karajagi railway station in Haveri a few months ago. She was visiting a relative in Karajagi. He introduced himself as a businessman supplying commodities to grocery stores. Both exchanged their mobile phone numbers and she was in touch with him over phone.

The woman has two children and her husband works in a private company in north Bengaluru. "The accused called her on October 4 and invited her to meet him at Yeshwantpur railway station. He took her to a lodge in Cottonpet, saying he wanted to discuss something with her and then raped her. She alleged he threatened her to accompany him to his relative's house at Chikkanayakanahalli in Tumakuru district," a police officer said.

"Marikumar raped me at Chikkanayakanahalli and later took me to his house in Haveri. Marikumar's brother and brother-in-law abused me and assaulted me at his residence," she said in her complaint.

Haveri police registered a case of rape against Marikumar and a case of assault against his brother and brother-in-law.

"We have arrested Marikumar from his house. He is in judicial cus tody now. The case was transferred as the rape had been committed in Cottonpet police jurisdiction," Ha veri district police said.

Cottonpet police said they had received the documents related to the case and will investigate further.