India opposition lawmaker arrested on rape charges

A lawmaker from India's opposition Congress party, who represents the Sitapur constituency in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh in the Indian parliament, was arrested on Thursday on charges of rape and assault.

Rakesh Rathore was arrested days after a woman accused him of rape and assault. He has denied the charges but a local court declined to grant him bail, Indian media reported.

"I am confident that I will get justice in the court of the people and court of law," Rathore told ANI before being led away by police.

Reuters, which has a minority stake in ANI news agency, was unable to reach Rathore or his lawyer for a comment.

Police in Uttar Pradesh registered a case against the lawmaker on January 17 after a complaint from a woman who accused Rathore of having sexually assaulted her for four years, the Times of India newspaper reported.

A spokesperson for the police could not immediately be reached for comment.