Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Institute chairman Girish Verma was acquitted of rape charges on Tuesday by a local court. Additional District Judge (ADJ) Saeeda Bano Rehman pronouncing judgment in the case acquitted him of all charges leveled against him by a teacher of institute in March 2013.
Verma, nephew of internationally acclaimed Saint Mahesh Yogi was charged of repeated sexual harassment by a teacher of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Institute. The case was among the famous cases of the State.
Complainant Renu Rani Sharma had alleged she was first raped on August 22, 1999 and the last time on March 1, 2013. She had lodged first complaint on March 11, 2013 and second complaint on March 24, 2013.
Verma was arrested on December 29, 2013. He was initially sent in police custody till January 1, 2014. Thereafter he was sent to judicial custody. ADJ Saeeda Bano Rehman had rejected the bail plea on January 3, 2014. The High Court, on January 30, 2014 had granted bail to him. Justice NK Gupta had granted bail.
The husband of the complainant was the private secretary of Verma for 12 years. The complainant has alleged that Verma raped her in hotels during tours. The husband of the complainant has also released some pictures related to the case in the media on that occasion.
Now 42, the woman who has accused him of exploitation was first employed as a teacher a decade ago in a school in Arera Colony before being transferred to a school in Ratanpur. She has alleged that Verma forced her into sex through the decade. She says she had kept quiet because he had filmed her in the nude at a group institution in Noida.