Jajpur: Police on Monday booked a homeguard for allegedly sexually exploiting a 20-year-old woman from Sutahat in Cuttack.

On Sunday night, the woman lodged a complaint against Amit Kumar Nayak, a resident of Manasapola in the district, at Town police station. Nayak, a homeguard at Town police station, drives the station's vehicle. Nayak has been on the run after he learnt that the woman had lodged a complaint against him.

The police said Nayak befriended the woman on social media around four years ago. The two entered into a relationship shortly after and he visited her at her home on a regular basis. Ayear later, he established a sexual relationship with her on the promise of marriage, the complaint states. With time, as Nayak made no progress in keeping his promise of marrying the woman, she started pressurising him. However, Nayak flatly refused to marry her, the complaint states. She also alleged that he beat her when she visited Nayak's home to talk about a wedding.

"He sexually exploited me for over three years on the pretext of marriage. He used to buy time every time I asked for marriage. I put pressure on him for marriage last week over phone, but he refused," the woman said.

Police sources said when the woman visited Nayak's home on Saturday, he denied having any relationship with her. He also assaulted her and drove her from his village.

The woman then informed her family members about her ordeal on Sunday evening. Later, she lodged a complaint with the cops.

Following the complaint, the police registered a case under several sections of the Indian Penal Code.

"We have registered a case against the accused and investigation is on," said Jajpur sub-divisional police officer Prasant Kumar Mallha.