Chinmayanand (politician)

Swami Chinmayanand (born Krishna Pal Singh)^[1] is a former union minister from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.^[2] He was minister of state for internal affairs in third Vajpayee ministry. He was elected to 13th Lok Sabha from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh as a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate in 1999. He was member of 10th Lok Sabha from Badaun in 1991 and from Machhlishahr in 1998.

Swami Chinmayanand
Member of the Indian Parliament for 10th Lok Sabha from Badaun in Uttar Pradesh
In office 1991–1996
Member of the Indian Parliament for 12th Lok Sabha from Machhlishahr in Uttar Pradesh
In office 1998–1999
Member of the Indian Parliament for 13th Lok Sabha from Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh
In office 1999–2003

He is also credited for amicably resolving the dispute of Armed rebellion for Bodo land in the North Eastern region. After he assumed the charge of Minister of State in Vajpayee Ministry, his efforts to reinstate peace in North Eastern region were widely appreciated in 2003.^[3] He also strived for the inclusion of Bodo language in the eighth schedule of Indian Constitution which was added through 92nd Constitutional Amendment in 2003.

Rape allegations, arrest and acquittal

In August 2019, a female student at a college run by him posted a video alleging sexual exploitation by Swami Chinmayanand.^[1] He was arrested after the girl allegedly went missing.^[4] He was charged for misusing authority for sex, stalking, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation.^[2] In response to the allegations, He alleged that the woman had attempted to extort money from him. She was arrested in connection with his complaint and is currently in custody. The case against Chinmayanand and the woman are pending.^[5]

In February 2020, Chinmayanand was granted bail,^[6] but was re-arrested in July 2020. The head of the Special Investigative Tribunal stated to press that Chinmayanand had admitted to asking the student to massage him. He has been charged with offences including sexual exploitation and criminal intimidation.^[7][8]

In February 2024, Swami Chinmayanand was acquitted by the MP MLA Court in Shahjahanpur in cases levelled against him.^[9]

References

1. Tiwari, Ayush (11 September 2019). "Our beloved Swamiji: Chinmayanand's experiments with power and piety". Outlook India. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
2. "Swami Chinmayanand: India ex-minister arrested in sexual abuse case". BBC News. 20 September 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
3. "Bodo Tigers give up guns, peace appeal to Ulfa". Retrieved 5 September 2024.
4. "Swami Chinmayanand booked after girl alleging harassment goes missing in UP". The Times of India. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
5. "Chinmayanand-UP law student saga explained: Why both accused and accuser are in jail". India Today. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
6. "Granted Bail, Rape Accused Chinmayanand Walks Out Of UP Jail To Grand Welcome". NDTV.com. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
7. "BJP's Chinmayanand, accused of rape by law student, arrested by UP Police". Retrieved 5 September 2024.
8. "'Am ashamed of my deeds', Chinmayanand told UP cops in law student case". Retrieved 5 September 2024.
9. Sharma, Ajay. "Swami Chinmayanand, Former Union Minister of State is acquitted in rape case". Bru Times News.