Allahabad HC Discharges MP Rakesh Rathore in Rape Case
Court says prosecution material indicated a long-standing consensual relationship between the two married adults
GG News Bureau
Lucknow, 26th Sept: The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has discharged Congress MP Rakesh Rathore in a rape case registered in Sitapur, holding that the prosecution material indicated a long-standing consensual relationship between Rathore and the complainant. The judgment was delivered by Justice Subhash Vidyarthi on September 17, 2026.
The court set aside the trial court’s May 5, 2025 order rejecting Rathore’s discharge application and subsequently allowed his plea for discharge. The High Court also held that the framing of charges did not prevent it from exercising its revisional jurisdiction to examine the legality of the earlier discharge proceedings.
The complainant had alleged that Rathore established a physical relationship with her after promising to marry her and that the relationship continued over a period of time. According to the case material, she had met Rathore during public meetings, after which he allegedly offered political support and patronage. She was subsequently appointed district women president of the Tailik Mahasangh, according to the court record.
The High Court examined the prosecution material, including statements recorded during the investigation, while considering whether there was sufficient ground or a grave suspicion to proceed with the charges.
The court noted circumstances indicating frequent interactions between Rathore and the complainant, including visits to his residence. It also considered statements made by the complainant’s husband, married son and daughter-in-law.
On its assessment of the material at the discharge stage, the court concluded that the circumstances pointed towards a prolonged consensual relationship between two mature, married adults rather than supporting the prosecution’s allegation that the relationship had been established through a promise of marriage.
Rathore had approached the High Court after the trial court rejected his discharge application on May 5, 2025. Despite the revision petition being filed before the High Court, the trial court subsequently framed charges on May 16, 2025.
The High Court held that the subsequent framing of charges did not take away its revisional jurisdiction to examine the legality of the order rejecting discharge.
The court ultimately allowed Rathore’s revision, set aside the trial court order and discharged him from the charges arising from the case.
The FIR against Rathore was registered at City Kotwali police station in Sitapur in January 2025. The case subsequently led to his arrest and proceedings before the trial court. The High Court had earlier stayed the criminal proceedings in May 2025 while considering Rathore’s revision petition against the rejection of his discharge application.
The latest High Court ruling came after the court examined the investigation material and the legal grounds raised by Rathore.
The ruling should be distinguished from reports published on September 18, 2026 that described the outcome as the quashing of the FIR. The judgment analysis available for the September 17 order records the operative relief as allowing the revision, setting aside the May 5, 2025 order and discharging Rathore from the charges.
