Chancellor of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Vedic University Girish Varma was Monday remanded to police custody for three days after he was arrested in connection with a rape complaint filed nearly 10 months ago in Bhopal.

The alleged victim, a teacher at Maharshi Vidya Mandir, Ratanpur, had accused Varma, a nephew of Mahesh Yogi, of repeatedly raping her between 1998 and 2013. A former employee of a group institution, the woman alleged that the couple had received threats to withdraw the complaint.

Varma, who had refused to produce himself before the police, has described the case as an "elaborate conspiracy" against him and accused the couple of trying to blackmail him after the complainant's husband was fired from job. After the spiritual guru's death in 2008, Varma was entrusted the job of running the university and other institutions in the country.

The couple had knocked on several doors, including those of the state women's commission, but the police were dragging their feet over the complaint and till the arrest on Sunday, appeared to dispute the complainant's accusations.

When the police reached Varma's Bhopal residence he tried to evade arrest by claiming that he was meditating and that he would turn himself in after two days. Having registered an FIR in the afternoon, the Jahangirabad police waited for some time outside his home before forcing Varma to accompany them to the police station.

The police Friday took his statement at the Women's Police Station but let him go. While accusing the administration and police of giving him special treatment, the woman threatened to immolate herself if Varma was not arrested.

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