Warrant against former Minister

A local court issued a bailable warrant against former Union Minister Swami Chinmayanand, rejecting the Uttar Pradesh government’s plea for withdrawing a rape case against him. Hearing the application moved by the rape victim, chief judicial magistrate Shikha Pradhan on Thursday rejected the government move and issued a bailable warrant of ₹5,000.

The court also directed the former Minister to be present in court on the next date of hearing on July 12.

The government had earlier sent a letter to the district magistrate for withdrawing the case against Swami Chinmayanand, who was charged with raping his disciple and holding her hostage.

The district administration had sent the letter to the CJM court.

Victim seeks justice

The victim, on the other hand, had sent letters to the court objecting to the government’s move.

When contacted, the victim said the CJM court order proved that the government had made a mistake in making a recommendation in this regard.

“Now the State government should help me in getting justice in this case,” she said.

In 2011, the victim had alleged that she was kept at an ashram and raped by the former Minister.

When she got pregnant, he allegedly forced her to undergo an abortion.

She lodged an FIR at the Kotwali police station here and a chargesheet was filed after police investigation, but the Allahabad High Court stayed his arrest.