Shahjahanpur court orders police to arrest Chinmayanand, produce him on December 9

The court issued an arrest warrant against him in a case of sexual exploitation lodged by his disciple

A special MP-MLA court here directed police to arrest former Union Minister Swami Chinmayanand Saraswati and produce him before it on December 9 after he did not appear despite a Supreme Court order.  The court issued an arrest warrant against Mr. Chinmayanand in a case of sexual exploitation lodged against him by his disciple at a police station here, special government counsel Neelima Saxena told PTI.

His advocate gave an application saying Mr. Chinmayanand has filed an application for anticipatory bail in the high court which is to be heard on December 6. Therefore, he should be given time to appear, but Judge Asma Sultana refused to give time, Ms. Saxena said.

The judge said Mr. Chinmayanand was given time to surrender on November 30 by the Supreme Court but he did not appear, so this period cannot be extended.

The court has directed police to arrest and produce him before the court on December 9, Ms. Saxena said.

In 2011, on a complaint from his disciple, a case of sexual exploitation was registered against Mumukshu ashram founder Mr. Chinmayanand.

The Uttar Pradesh government in 2018 had sent a letter to the court through the district magistrate to withdraw the case, but the victim objected.

The application for withdrawal was dismissed by the court and a bailable warrant was issued against him.