Congress MP Rakesh Rathore arrested by UP Police on rape charges, was addressing press conference

Rakesh Rathore, Congress MP from Sitapur. (File Photo)

The Congress party's Sitapur MP Rakesh Rathore was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police in connection with a rape case on Thursday. Rathore was taken into custody from his residence in Sitapur while he was addressing a press conference.

The arrest came a day after the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court rejected Rathore's anticipatory bail plea in the matter.

Rathore, general secretary of the Congress' UP unit, is accused of raping a woman over a period of four years. A case was registered against him by the police on January 17 following a complaint by the woman.

Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh: Congress MP Rakesh Rathore was taken into police custody during a press conference at his residence in connection with a Rape case pic.twitter.com/KlsQtjVhYi

IANS (@ians_india) January 30, 2025

As per the police, the Congress MP allegedly promised to marry her and also make her political career. She also shared call detail records and other details with the police.

According to NDTV, the woman's husband filed a separate complaint against five individuals last week, alleging Rathore and his son of pressuring the family to settle the case.

On Wednesday, a single bench of Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court rejected the anticipatory bail plea filed by the MP and asked him to surrender.

On January 20, the Congress MP's counsels filed a petition seeking anticipatory bail in Sitapur. Three days later, an MP-MLA court in Sitapur rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Rathore.

Rathore's counsels had argued in court that the complaint was filed four years later and said the MP was innocent.