MUMBAI – A 38-year-old Indian Navy officer has been arrested in Kottayam oncharges of raping a woman, police said Sunday.

The woman’s father had lodged a complaint with the police, alleging thatthe Navy officer raped his daughter after making a false promise to marryher, PTI has reported.

Murali Kumar, a chief petty officer of Navy in Mumbai, was arrested andremanded in judicial custody on Saturday, police said.

He has also been charged under the SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act.

The victim in her early 20’s alleged that Kumar raped her when she had goneto meet him at a hotel in Kottayam last week.

He had allegedly invited her to the hotel room, police said.

The incident came to light when the woman was admitted to a privatehospital near Kottayam, police said.

Kumar, a two-time Mr Asia title holder and eight-time Mr India titlewinner, allegedly befriended the woman through social media.