The Allahabad High Court has granted an anticipatory bail to the former Union Minister Swami Chinmayanand, who is accused in raping a law student from Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh in 2011.
Justice Samit Gopal who was hearing the matter noted that it needs consideration and said that till the the next date of listing, in the event of arrest of the applicant – Swami Chinmiyanand Saraswati, involved in the aforesaid case shall be released on interim anticipatory bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 1,00,000/- (Rupees One lakh) with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court.”
The Court is also asked the victim and the state government to file a reply in this matter within four weeks.
The petitioners counsel said that through an order dated July 16, 2012 passed by a Division Bench of the High Court, Chinmayanand was granted protection from arrest during the pendency of the investigation.
The counsel also said that the applicant is a 75 year old man with several ailments.
It was also said that Chinmayanand was granted a protective order during the period of investigation, so he may be granted anticipatory bail till the conclusion of the trial in the case.
The State Counsel opposed the prayer for anticipatory bail, but could not dispute the protection granted to the applicant during the pendency of the investigation.
The State counsel stated that the government of the state has decided to withdraw the prosecution of Chinmayanand.
The Court granted having hears both the parties has granted anticipatory bail to Chinmayanand with a few conditions.
The Court also said that if the applicant does not co-operate in the proceedings of the trial, this order shall stand automatically recalled / vacated and the applicant shall be taken into custody, forthwith.
The next date of the hearing is decided for February 6, 2023. Senior Advocate Anoop Trivedi, assisted by Advocates Ankit Shukla and Abhinav Gaur, appeared for Chinmayanand.
The present case talks about an LL.M. student from the Swami Shukdevanand Law College (SS Law College) in Shahjahanpur,who had posted online videos online levelling allegations of sexual harassment and rape against Swami Chinmayanand, who was a former BJP Member of Parliament.