Former minister Swami Chinmayanand arrested on charges of rape: Police

SAHAJAHANPUR: Former Union minister Swami Chinmayanand was arrested on Friday for allegedly raping a law student and sent to 14 days judicial custody by a court in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur, police said.nnThe BJP leader was arrested by the special investigation team (SIT) of UP police from his ashram here around 8.50 am amid heavy security deployment. He was then produced at the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, which remanded him to judicial custody.nnPolice said they have also arrested three other persons on charges of extorting money from Chinmayanand.nn”Chinmayanand was arrested this morning from his ashram. The SIT team arrested him and conducted a medical examination. He was produced in a court and sent to jail,” said Director General of Police O P Singh.nnHe said Chinmayanand has been arrested on charges of rape.nnAccording to Senior Prosecution Officer Kuldeep Singh, Chinmayanand has also been booked under charges of sexual intercourse by superintendent of an institute like a jail, stalking, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation.nnThe arrest comes nearly a month after the woman, who is a postgraduate student at one of the colleges run by Chinmayanand’s organisation, first levelled allegations against him.nn”There was no delay, as the SIT was minutely investigating the case. When the statement of the girl was recorded, she gave some video clippings. All the video clippings of the girl, and the videos related to extortion were sent for forensic examination, and after this only Swami Chinmayanand and three other persons were arrested,” the DGP said.nnThe woman had submitted a pen drive containing 43 video clips to support her allegations.nnChinmayanand’s counsel Pooja Singh said the SIT took signatures of his relatives on the arrest memo but no arrest-related documents were given to them.nnAhead of the arrest, massive security was deployed at Mumukshu Ashram where members of the SIT reached in a fleet of more than 12 vehicles.nnAs Chinmayanand was taken for a medical check-up, patients at the government hospital had to face a tough time as they were not allowed to enter the premises.nnTeams led by senior police officials were deployed at the court premises and the hospital. The police also patrolled the area to ensure there is no disturbance, a senior official said.nnThe case is being investigated by the SIT on directions of the Supreme Court.nnChinmayanand was admitted to the medical college here on Wednesday and later referred to King George’s Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow.nnBut he chose to return to his residence on Thursday and get ayurvedic treatment there, according to his counsel Om Singh.nnThe student had earlier threatened self-immolation if the police do not arrest him.nnThe SIT has also examined the principals of the two colleges where the woman studied in recent years.nnSource: Press Trust of India