India, Jan. 30 -- Congress lawmaker from Sitapur, Rakesh Rathore, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly raping a 45-year-old woman over the past four years by promising to marry her and build her political career, said a senior police officer.

Rathore, elected as a member of parliament (MP) after defeating BJP's Rajesh Verma in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by a margin of 90,000 votes, was arrested while addressing a press briefing at his residence, said Sitapur superintendent of police (SP) Chakresh Mishra.

An FIR was filed against Rathore on January 17 under charges of rape, criminal intimidation, and threatening with a firearm at Sitapur's City Kotwali police station. The Allahabad High Court had rejected Rathore's petition on Wednes...