Congress MP Rakesh Rathore granted bail after 48 days

Congress MP Rakesh Rathore was released from jail on Wednesday after spending 48 days behind bars. A Sitapur court granted him bail after he was charged with sexual intercourse by deceit under Section 69 of the BNS (Bharatiya Nari Suraksha Act). Rathore walked out of jail saying it was a time for atonement. He thanked his supporters and noted that senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had contacted his family during his time in jail. Rathore denied the allegations and said he believed that “everything will be clear after the investigation.” He chose to remain silent during his imprisonment and did not want to make the situation political. Rathore was arrested on January 30 while he was addressing a press conference regarding claims made by a 45-year-old woman. She accused him of raping her under the guise of marriage and political promotion. The woman filed a report on January 17, providing a recorded phone call with Rathore as evidence. Earlier this month, the Allahabad High Court granted Rathore bail in the initial rape case filed under Section 64 of the BNS. The addition of Section 69 to the charges delayed his release until now.