Chinmayanand Case: SIT searches student's hostel room for five hours
In the Swami Chinmayanand case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed to probe the rape allegations, made some progress on Tuesday. The investigating team unlocked the hostel room of the 23-year-old law student who accused the BJP leader of rape. SIT also visited his ashram. However, the victim called SIT's actions unsatisfactory because they didn't arrest Chinmayanand despite grilling her for 11 hours.
Last month, the woman, a student of Shahjahanpur's SS Law College, made a video alleging harassment at the hands of a "big leader of saint community". A day after the clip went viral, the student went missing and was traced in Rajasthan a week later. Meanwhile, on the complaint of her father, UP police booked Chinmayanand on charges of kidnapping and criminal intimidation.
On Monday, in her address to the press, she accused Chinmayanand, a minister in late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government, of rape. She claimed she had evidence of the exploitation which lasted a year. "I will give the proof, including clips, at an opportune time against the 72-year-old BJP leader," she reportedly said, asking that her hostel room be unlocked in media's presence.
"Chinmayanand is the chairman of the college. I was often forced to stay in college till late hours, due to which I was forced to take a room in the hostel. After I started staying in the hostel, I was sexually assaulted on numerous occasions," TOI quoted her.
Today, the woman was taken to her hostel room in the presence of a magistrate. To note, she filed a 12-page complaint at Lodhi Road Police Station in Delhi on Thursday, where she said she has little faith on UP police. She claimed Shahjahanpur cops were reluctant to book Chinmayanand for rape, despite her detailing the ordeal. Her complaint has been forwarded to SIT.
"On Sunday, the SIT quizzed me for about 11 hours. Even after I told them everything, they haven't arrested Chinmayanand yet. I don't have any problem if I am questioned for several hours by the SIT, but it should also arrest the accused," she added.
While the case shed light on UP police's laxity once again, Chinmayanand dismissed the serious allegations as "conspiracy". The politician, who is yet to be summoned, said it was an effort to blackmail him. "Swami isn't running away from the case. He is currently engaged in spiritual activities, but will definitely appear before the Delhi Police whenever required," his lawyer Om Singh said earlier.
