LUCKNOW, Feb. 5 -- The Sitapur MP/MLA court on Wednesday rejected the bail petition of Congress MP from Sitapur, Rakesh Rathore, who was arrested and lodged in Sitapur district jail since January 30.

Rathore is accused of raping a 45-year-old woman by promising to marry and build her political career, confirmed police and prosecution officials on Wednesday.

They said the MP would have to continue to remain in jail under judicial custody till the next court date on January 11, or he can get bail from the higher court as the MP/MLA court has turned down his bail plea.

Sitapur district government counsel, Prashant Shukla, confirmed that the MP/MLA court, judge Dinesh Kumar Nagar had rejected the bail petition of the Congress MP after hear...