Indian lawmaker arrested on rape and assault charges

(Reuters): A lawmaker from India’s opposition Congress party was arrested on Thursday on charges of rape and assault.

According to foreign media, Rakesh Rathore, who represents the Sitapur constituency in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh in the Indian parliament, was arrested days after a woman accused him of rape and assault. He has denied the charges but a local court declined to grant him bail, Indian media reported.

“I am confident that I will get justice in the court of the people and court of law,” Rathore told journalists before being led away by police.

Reuters was unable to reach Rathore or his lawyer for a comment.

Police in Uttar Pradesh registered a case against the lawmaker on January 17 after a complaint from a woman who accused Rathore of having sexually assaulted her for four years.