Yogi governmet directed Shahjahanpur District Magistrate to withdraw a seven-year-old rape case

Close on heels of ordering the withdrawal of criminal cases pending in courts against BJP leaders for riots in western UP, the Yogi government moved yet again to withdraw a rape case against former Union minister of state for Home and MP, Swami Chinmayanand.

In an order issued on March 6, the Yogi governmet directed Shahjahanpur District Magistrate to withdraw a seven-year-old rape case under sections 342/376/506/307/323/313 of IPC against Swami Chinmayanad, Head of Mumuksh Ashram. The rape case was registered by a woman resident of Badaun and a disciple of Swami Chinmayanand on November 30, 2011 at Sadar Police Station in Shahjahanpur. 

The complainant had alleged in the FIR that the former BJP MP from Jaunpur held her captive in his ashram and raped her in 2004. She was allegedly issued life threats to keep her mouth shut by the Swami and his henchmen.

Fearing arrest, Swami Chinmayanad had obtained a stay from High Court and the case was pending at the court since then. On the complainant's request, the case was also transferred to Badaun. 

On is part, Swami Chinmayanad dismissed that he was falsely implicated in the case by his rivals to tarnish his image. The former Union minister of state in Vajpayee government had requested Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to withdraw the 'fake' case against him when the latter visited his Mumuksh ashram to inaugurate the Mumuksh Yuva Mahotsav on February 25.

The CM immediately directed the Law department to issue a GO for withdrawal of the rape case against the former Union minister. Acting on the GO dated March 6, Additional District Magistrate (Administration) Jitendra Sharma issued a letter on March 9, directing Public Prosecutor to file an application in the court under Section 321 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, to withdraw the rape case against the Swami. 

The rape victim’s husband has strongly objected to withdrawal of case against Chinmayanand. He alleged that instead of helping the rape victim, the Yogi government was supporting the accused. The husband told the media that he would approach the High Court against Yogi's decision.