Chinmayanand in hospital after victim demands arrest

Former Union Minister and BJP leader Swami Chinmayanand, accused of raping a student, has been admitted to Shahjahanpur government hospital after his health deteriorated.

The 73-year-old politician was being treated by a team of doctors in his Mumukshu ashram where he has been held under house arrest since September 13. Chinmaynand was shifted to the hospital on Wednesday.

Chief Medical Superintendent M.P. Gangwar said: "After his condition worsened on Wednesday, he has been shifted to the medical college hospital and admitted in ward number 8."

Chinmayanand has chronic diarrhoea. He complained of uneasiness late on Monday and the doctors were called in. This was hours after the law student had appeared before the court to record her statement.

The 23-year-old law student has accused Chinmayanand of sexually harassing her repeatedly and blackmailing her.

The student, on Wednesday, threatened to end her life if Chinmayanand was not arrested. She said that it had been over 15 days since she recorded her statement but the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had not yet arrested the accused.

A member of the investigating team said, on condition of anonymity, that they would wait for Chinmayanand to recover before further action could be initiated.