UP: Sitapur Congress MP booked for rape on aide’s complaint

“The medical examination of the woman has been conducted. Her statement has been recorded before a magistrate. She has also submitted electronic evidence and call recordings to support her claims. The investigation is on. No arrests have been made so far, but security has been provided to the woman. A police team visited the MP’s residence here today, but he was not present,” Superintendent of Police (Sitapur) Chakresh Mishra said.

The MP has been booked under BNS sections 64 (rape), 351 (3) (criminal intimidation), and 127 (2) (wrongful confinement), said police.

According to police, the woman filed a complaint against the MP on January 15. She alleged that in 2018 she came in contact with Rathor, then a BJP MLA, who offered her political mentorship. After some time, she said, Rathore appointed her as the president of Talik Mahasabha’s district women unit. In March 2020, when she visited his house at his invitation, Rathor allegedly locked her inside and sexually assaulted her. When she resisted, he allegedly used emotional blackmail, citing his political influence and promising to divorce his wife to marry her. She also claimed that he assured her of political advancement, which later turned out to be a false promise.

“Using these tactics, he established physical relations with me multiple times,” the complainant stated, adding that societal pressures forced her to remain silent.

After Rathor won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and became an MP, he allegedly summoned her to his house on the morning of August 24.

She alleged that Rathor forced her to sign blank papers and threatened to defame her if she refused. “When I resisted, he threatened to harm my life and property,” she told the police. The complainant further alleged that since then, Rathor has been “exploiting and defaming” her both directly and indirectly, causing her family to live in constant fear.

Rathor, who joined the Congress in 2023, defeated BJP’s Rajesh Verma in last year’s Lok Sabha elections. The MP could not be contacted.