Patna: A BJP legislator from Nawada is in the eye of a storm after an audio clip of a purported conversation between him and a woman suggesting an extra-marital relationship went viral on social media on Friday.

The matter snowballed on Saturday when the mukhiya of Meskaur Bharat panchayat, Kanhaiya Kumar Badal, alleged that the MLA, Anil Kumar Singh, who represents Hisua Assembly constituency, has been coercing the woman.

Badal alleged that the woman was being pressured by Singh to establish a physical relationship with him. "This is a glaring example of sexual exploitation of a woman. The conversation between the lawmaker and the woman is sufficient to book him (MLA) on the charge of sexual exploitation," he said.

When contacted, MLA Singh denied the allegations, and said the whole episode was part of a well-hatched conspiracy to tarnish his image. "I am being dragged into a controversy without any reason," he said.

Singh said people who have lost the support of workers were trying to implicate him in a false case. "I am ready to face investigation by any agency. The audio clip circulated on social networking sites has been tampered with," he said.

Mukhiya Badal along with his supporters staged a dharna near Vishwa Shanti Chowk at Hisua - 110km southeast of Patna - and demanded action against the legislator for his alleged misconduct. In retaliation, hundreds of supporters of the MLA reached the dharna site and assaulted the mukhiya with sticks and also pelted the protesters with stones, causing injuries to Badal. The mukhiya is being treated in hospital under police custody.

Nawada sadar sub-divisional police officer Vijay Kumar Jha said the road blockade was removed after he assured the protesters that the police would initiate action against the legislator, if the allegations were found to be true. The audio clip would be sent to the forensic science laboratory to ascertain its veracity.

Two separate FIRs have been lodged in connection with the incident. While the first FIR has been lodged on the statement of the mukhiya, the second FIR was related to the dharna staged by Badal and his supporters.

Jha said the FIR had been lodged against the MLA on the basis of the mukhiya's statement. "The action against the legislator will be taken on the basis of evidence and not merely on statement of any individual," he clarified.