Chinmayanand no more a party member: UP BJP unit

Distancing itself from the controversy around the topic, the BJP on Wednesday said that rape accused former minister and BJP leader Chinmayanand is no more a part of the party. Informing reporters about it, UP BJP spokesperson Harish Chandra Srivastava said that he is no more a BJP member. "Chinmayanand isn’t a BJP member anymore,” said UP BJP unit spokesperson in Lucknow. Another BJP spokesperson said that since he has not renewed his membership, he ceases to be a member, quoted a local news report.

READ: UP student who accused Chinmayanand of raping her arrested by SIT

Girl who accused Chinmayanand arrested by SIT

In the latest development in the case, the woman from Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur who accused former Union Minister and  leader Chinmayanand of raping her has been sent to 14-days judicial custody on Wednesday. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has alleged that the girl has been trying to blackmail the leader in order to extort Rs five crore from him. On Tuesday, a local court in Shahjahanpur admitted the law student's anticipatory bail scheduling the next hearing on September 26. Earlier, a UP court had rejected accused Chinmayanand's anticipatory bail plea, adding that it should be moved in the sessions court. 

READ: Chinmayanand questioned for seven hours by SIT

The girl's family has said that she has been taken into custody 'forcibly', as per news reports. Commenting on the arrest, SIT chief Naveen Arora has said, “Student was arrested after enough evidence. Extortion money of Rs 5 crore was demanded from Chinmayanand on the direction of the student,” as quoted by news agency PTI.  Meanwhile, Shahjahanpur chief judicial magistrate rejected the bail application of Chinmayanand on Monday, saying it should be moved in the sessions court, the former Union minister's counsel, Om Singh, said on Tuesday.

READ: Akhara Parishad to decide on expulsion of Chinmayanand

What is the Chinmayanand rape case?

The woman has alleged that Chinmayanand sexually exploited her for a year after helping her with admission into his college. He allegedly filmed her taking a bath and blackmailed her with the video and raped her. The woman also alleged that she was raped multiple times and blackmailed by the leader. The case surfaced when she went missing on August 24 after putting up a Facebook post without naming Chinmayanand. When the UP police tracked her down after a week, the Supreme Court heard her allegations and ordered a Special Investigation Team to inquire into them.

READ: Chinmayanand case: Woman records detailed statement to magistrate