Hindustan Times : Feb 03, 2020, 03:10 PM
The Allahabad High Court on Monday granted bail to former Union minister and BJP leader Swami Chinmayanand in the alleged rape case of a law student.The woman was a student of the Chinmayanand-controlled SS Law College in Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh. She had accused the former BJP leader of sexually harassing her.
Chinmayanand has been booked under Sections 376C (sexual intercourse by a person or persons taking advantage of their official position), 354 D (stalking), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The case is being investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed on the directions of the Supreme Court. Almost a month after being accused of sexual misconduct, Swami Chinmanayand was arrested in Shahjahanpur on September 20, 2019.
Five days after his arrest, the BJP had said in September last year that Chinmayanand was no longer with the party.
The SIT had, on November 6, submitted chargesheets in two cases - one against former Union minister and the other against the woman law student who accused him of rape and sexual harassment (and who was herself accused by the former minister of extortion).
The woman was, however, given bail in the extortion case in December last year.
The woman went missing on August 24, a day after she posted a video on social media, alleging that “a senior leader of the saint community” was harassing and threatening to kill her. Following this, the woman’s father lodged a complaint, accusing Chinmayanand of harassing his daughter.
Chinmayanand has been booked under Sections 376C (sexual intercourse by a person or persons taking advantage of their official position), 354 D (stalking), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The case is being investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed on the directions of the Supreme Court. Almost a month after being accused of sexual misconduct, Swami Chinmanayand was arrested in Shahjahanpur on September 20, 2019.
Five days after his arrest, the BJP had said in September last year that Chinmayanand was no longer with the party.
The SIT had, on November 6, submitted chargesheets in two cases - one against former Union minister and the other against the woman law student who accused him of rape and sexual harassment (and who was herself accused by the former minister of extortion).
The woman was, however, given bail in the extortion case in December last year.
The woman went missing on August 24, a day after she posted a video on social media, alleging that “a senior leader of the saint community” was harassing and threatening to kill her. Following this, the woman’s father lodged a complaint, accusing Chinmayanand of harassing his daughter.