There's no justice: Chinmayanand's accuser upset with probe, watered-down charges
What's the story
A 23-year-old law student mustered enough courage to speak against powerful BJP leader Chinmayanand, who allegedly sexually harassed her for months. After days of dilly-dallying, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) finally arrested him but charged him with less-stricter provisions, naturally upsetting the student. She claimed there was "no justice" and alleged police are trying to save Chinmayanand. Perhaps, there is no justice after all.
Police's action
The case certainly raises questions on police's behavior
The way Uttar Pradesh police acted (the case pertains to Shahjahanpur) shows they weren't serious since the beginning. Initially, the woman went missing after leveling serious accusations on the former Union Minister and police took days to charge Chinmayanand with kidnapping. Even after she was found and said Chinmayanand raped her, police didn't book him. They woke up on Friday and finally arrested him.
Charges
Shockingly, cops didn't book Chinmayanand for rape
After his arrest, Chinmayanand was sent to judicial custody for 14 days. Despite the woman opening up about the abuse, the 72-year-old wasn't charged with rape, revealed media reports on Friday. Instead, he was booked for "misusing authority for sexual intercourse" or "sexual intercourse not amounting to the offense of rape". This offense carries a punishment of 5-10 years in prison and a fine.
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The woman's worst fears have come true
Referring to charges, the woman said, "This has played out exactly as I feared... there is no justice. I already told the SIT in detail how I was raped and yet Section 376 (Rape) has not been applied... I'm not happy with SIT's actions."
Extortion
Allegedly raped by Chinmayanand, the woman was booked for 'extortion'
In fact, based on a complaint by Chinmayanand's team, the woman and three men she knows, have been booked for extortion. The three men, Sanjay Singh, Vikram alias Durgesh and Sachin alias Sonu Sengar, have been arrested. "I have nothing to do with extortion case. They are saying this to save Chinmayanand," she said. Her younger brother concurred, saying extortion case was filed with ulterior motives.
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Extortion case was filed to weaken our case: Woman's brother
"We are not satisfied with the SIT investigation because agency invoked 376-C instead of 376 (rape) against Chinmayanand. The SIT is probing the role of my sister in a false case of extortion. The extortion case was lodged to weaken our case," her brother said.
SIT's version
Meanwhile, SIT claimed Chinmayanand has "owned up"
Meanwhile, SIT Chief Naveen Arora, who had earlier declared the investigation will not be swayed by "media trial", said Chinmayanand has admitted to "almost" every allegation against him, including getting body massages from the woman. "The circumstantial evidence in the case also being examined. He said he did not want to say more as he is ashamed of his acts," Arora added.