UP student who accused Chinmayanand of raping her arrested by SIT

The woman from Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur who accused former Union Minister and BJP 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. 

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: UP woman who accused Chinmayanand detained in extortion case: Reports

Chinmayanand arrested

The BJP leader Chinmayanand was arrested last week under IPC sections 354 D (stalking), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation). He has been in hospital since Sunday after two days in prison. Speaking to media, Hospital Chief Medical Superintendent Amit Agarwal said angiography was done and no significant blockage was found, adding that angioplasty was not required. The chest pain Chinmayanand suffered from was linked to his diabetes, Agarwal said. He will be stabilised with medicines in four or five days and his discharge will be planned in due course of time, the doctor said.

READ: Akhara Parishad to decide on expulsion of Chinmayanand

Woman records her statement

The student who leveled rape charges against BJP leader Swami Chinmayanand recorded her statement before a magistrate on Monday. The special investigation team (SIT) probing the case took her to court, where her statement was recorded before Judicial Magistrate Geetika Singh, official sources said. She remained in the court for around four hours and told PTI that the magistrate recorded her statement in 10 to 12 pages.  "I have told the magistrate about the rape complaint I gave in New Delhi, my missing spectacles and a chip from the hostel room. I also informed about the bedding and liquor bottles, which were removed from the Chinmayanand's room," she said. Meanwhile, the SIT claimed last week that Chinmayanand had not confessed of rape but has said that he is ashamed of his action.  

READ: Chinmayanand questioned for seven hours by SIT

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