Former Union Minister Chinmayanand was granted bailon Monday by the Allahabad High Court. The minister was in jail since Septemberover allegations of sexually exploiting a law student.

Chinmayanand is accused by a student at a lawcollege run by his trust of sexual harassment. He was charged with abusing hisposition as a person in authority to "induce or seduce" a woman under hischarge to have "sexual intercourse not amounting to the offence of rape."

The former minister also faces charges of stalking,wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation.

The 23-year-old law student was also arrested forallegedly trying to extort Rs. 5 crore from Chinmayanand and was released onbail in December, two months after her arrest.

Chinmayanand also alleged that she and her friendshad threatened to make public some video clips that showed him getting massagesfrom the student.

The Uttar Pradesh police tracked the student afterthe minister's legal team responded by filing an extortion case. The top courtlater heard her allegations and ordered an inquiry by a special investigationteam.