UP govt to withdraw rape case against former minister Swami Chinmayananda

The rape victim has sent letters to the President and the district judge raising objections over the move, urging them for immediate issuance of warrant against the accused.

The Yogi Adityanath government has decided to withdraw a rape and abduction case lodged against former Union minister of state (home) Swami Chinmayanand, an officer in Shahjahanpur said.

The FIR against former minister Swami Chinamayananda was lodged in November 30, 2011, on the complaint of a girl who had spent several years at his ashram. (AFP file photo)

The government has also initiated the process to withdraw 12 cases against BJP Agra MP Ram Shankar Katheria, another officer said. Katheria is chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.

The twin moves come on the heels of the decision to withdraw 131 cases against accused in Muzaffarnagar riots of 2013.

The move to withdraw the case comes when Shahjahanpur court has fixed May 15 for the hearing after the rape survivor moved an application, demanding arrest of the former minister.

The woman, a former disciple and manager of Mumuksh ashram run by Chinmayanand, had filed an FIR against him on November 30, 2011, alleging that she was held captive, raped and assaulted for several years.

Chinmayanand moved the Allahabad high court and got a stay on his arrest. The woman recorded her statement before the judicial magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC, but no action was taken by the police.