Rakesh Rathore, Congress MP From Uttar Pradesh, Arrested In Rape Case 

Congress MP Rakesh Rathore was today arrested in a rape case filed against him, officials said. Rathore, the Lok Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur, was arrested when he was holding a press conference.

Police registered a case against Rathore, who is also the General Secretary of the Congress’ Uttar Pradesh unit, on January 17 following a complaint from a woman, who accused him of sexually exploiting her for the past four years.

She alleged that he promised to marry her and make her political career. She also shared the call details and call recordings with the police.

Last week, the woman’s husband also filed a separate complaint against five individuals, alleging Rathore and his son were pressuring the family to settle the case.

Earlier Wednesday, the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court rejected his anticipatory bail petition and asked him to surrender. Prior to the high court, the MP-MLA court in Sitapur had rejected his anticipatory bail plea on January 23.

Before joining Congress, Rathore fought Uttar Pradesh assembly elections as a BJP candidate and an Independent. He was earlier associated with former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party.