An MP-MLA court on Saturday acquitted Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Atul Rai of rape charges almost a year after the alleged victim immolated herself near the Supreme Court.
The order was passed by the Special Judge Siyaram Chaurasia. However, the MP from Ghosi seat in Mau district will not yet leave the jail premises because another case is pending against him in Lucknow court, his lawyer said.
The case of rape was lodged against him on May 1, 2019 in Lanka police station here by a college student.
After winning the Lok Sabha elections on June 22, 2019 he surrendered in Varanasi court. Since then he has been lodged in prison and currently is in Naini Central Jail in Prayagraj.
A college girl hailing from Ballia district lodged the case against Rai accusing him of rape.
The girl and her friend immolated themselves outside the Supreme Court on August 16, 2021 and both died during treatment at hospital. The youth died on August 21 and the girl on August 24.
