US rapper Nelly released pending rape investigation

Grammy Award-winning rapper Nelly has been released from jail without charges pending an investigation of rape allegations, police in Washington state said.

Nelly, 42, was arrested early on Saturday in Auburn, Washington, after a woman accused him of raping her in his tour bus.

Police said Nelly – born Cornell Haynes Jnr – had been booked for investigation of second-degree rape and released from custody.

Nelly has vehemently denied the charges.

“I am beyond shocked that I have been targeted with this false allegation,” he said on Twitter. “I am completely innocent. I am confident that once the facts are looked at, it will be very clear that I am the victim of a false allegation.”