American national held for ‘raping’ Delhi-based woman

AGRA: The Vrindavan police arrested an American national and sent him to judicial custody on Friday for allegedly raping a Delhi-based woman. The US embassy has been informed about the incident and the woman has been sent for medical examination. Her statement would be recorded in court after a case was registered based on her complaint.

Sources said, the accused Michael James Bojer, 52, from Maryland, USA had been living in an ashram in Vrindavan for the past one week. He came in touch with the Delhi-based woman through Facebook around a year back. In her complaint, the woman had accused Bojer of developing physical relations with her on the pretext of marrying her, but he later turned down her proposal.

Acting on the complaint, the police reached an ashram in Vrindavan on Thursday where Bojer was residing. Bojer, allegedly, tried to attack police with a kitchen knife on being arrested but he was later overpowered.

A case was registered against him under sections 376 (rape), 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and other sections of the IPC and also Section 14 of the Foreigner Act as Bojer had not complied with formalities regarding visit by a foreigner to Indian city. “He was presented before the court on Friday and was remanded to judicial custody,” said Azad Pal Singh, inspector at Vrindavan police station in Mathura district.