File Picture
Former minister and BJP leader Swami Chinmayanand has been arrested by the Special Investigations Team probing the rape and sexual harassment case against him, according to media reports.
Chinmayanand’s arrest comes almost two weeks after the woman had accused him of rape. The woman had also lodged a zero FIR (one that can be filed in any police station regardless of the place of incidence or jurisdiction) in New Delhi.
The student who has levelled rape charges against Chinmayanand threatened self-immolation on Wednesday if he is not arrested even as the BJP leader was admitted to a local hospital complaining of uneasiness.
“Even two days after I recorded my statement before a magistrate, Chinmayanand has not been arrested. If the government is waiting for me to die, I will sprinkle kerosene on my body and immolate myself,” the student told reporters in Shahjahanpur.
Chinmayanand has been taken to hospital for a check-up under heavy security and thereafter he may be produced in court.
A special investigation team, probing the allegations levelled by the student, arrested the leader earlier in the day, following which he was produced before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate court. Chief Judicial Magistrate Om Veer sent the accused to Shahjahanpur district jail for 14 day judicial custody.
