In a significant development, the Allahabad High Court has granted bail to Congress MP Rakesh Rathor, who is embroiled in a rape case. The decision was announced by Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan of the Lucknow bench on Tuesday.
The case against Rathor includes serious allegations of rape, intimidation, and wrongful confinement, as initially lodged by a woman at the Kotwali Nagar police station in Sitapur. The charges stem from accusations that Rathor exploited the woman sexually for four years, allegedly promising marriage and assistance in advancing her political career.
During the legal proceedings, Rathor’s defense argued that the FIR lodged against him was influenced by political motives and was notably registered four years after the alleged incidents. The court’s decision to grant bail followed the rejection of Rathor’s anticipatory bail by the same court on January 29, which led to his arrest and subsequent remand to judicial custody.
Adding complexity to the case, the charge sheet filed by the police included Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), citing “sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means.” This addition was influenced by an audio recording uncovered during the investigation, which reportedly features Rathor giving assurances of marriage among other promises to the complainant.
Opposition to the bail plea was strong, with both the government lawyer and the complainant urging the court to consider the gravity of the evidence, which they argued supported the charges of deceitful behavior.
Rathor, who was arrested on January 30 during a press conference at his residence, has been in custody at the Sitapur district jail. His case has also seen his anticipatory bail plea rejected by an MP/MLA court in Sitapur on January 23.
