Rape accused Chinmayanand arrested

Rape accused former BJP MP Chinmayanand was arrested today and sent to 14 days Judicial custody.

He was accused of raping a law student and arrested five days after the woman detailed what she said was a year of sexual assault and blackmail before a court.

The allegation surfaced almost a month back and the accused had to move to Rajasthan as it was not safe to be in Uttar Pradesh. The former Union minister of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government was produced in court and sent to jail for 14 days.

According to his lawyer, the politician has been charged notwith rape but the milder "misusing authority for sexual intercourse"or "sexual intercourse not amounting to the offence of rape".

The police however have not confirmed this charge, which carries a punishment of up to five years in jail and a fine. He has also been charged with stalking, criminal intimidation and wrongful confinement.

Just before his arrest from his Mumuksha Ashram,Chinmayanand, 73, was taken in a senior police officer's car to a hospital inShahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh. He had been hospitalised yesterday after hecomplained of "uneasiness and weakness". According to his lawyer, hewas arrested around 8:50 am.