Swami Chaitanyanand Arrested for Sexual Harassment of Female Students

Sept 2025 : Swami Chaitanyanand Saraswati, also known as Partha Sarathy, has been arrested in Agra for allegedly sexually harassing several women students, officials confirmed on Sunday.

The accused is the director of the Sri Sharda Institute of Indian Management in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj and faces criminal charges for targeting female post-graduate management diploma students under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) scholarship program. Investigators say the ‘Swami’ allegedly called students to his room late at night, threatening to fail them or reduce their grades if they resisted his advances.

Officials reported that Chaitanyanand fled on August 4, shortly after the institute received a complaint from the Indian Air Force headquarters regarding his misconduct. Police have recorded statements from three institute wardens, who are accused of aiding him in deleting incriminating messages.

WhatsApp chats recovered from the phones of approximately 50 students reveal sexual harassment spanning 16 years, including explicit messages and incidents of forced physical contact. Allegations also suggest that CCTV footage was deleted; the DVR has been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for examination.

Seventeen women lodged complaints at the Defence Colony Police Station in early August, accusing Chaitanyanand of harassment. Investigators note that he has allegedly preyed on women for nearly two decades, having evaded previous molestation charges in 2009 and 2016. At the time the latest complaints were filed, he was in London, later traced to Agra. He had also filed an anticipatory bail petition in the Delhi High Court, which he subsequently withdrew.

Adding to the controversy, police recovered multiple forged number plates from Chaitanyanand’s luxury red Volvo car. The plates, bearing fake United Nations insignia with different numbers, were fabricated by the accused, according to investigators. The car has been seized as part of the ongoing probe.

The police continue to investigate the case, which has highlighted systemic abuse and manipulation by the accused over several years. Authorities have emphasized their commitment to thoroughly examining all digital evidence, questioning accomplices, and ensuring justice for the victims.

The arrest of Chaitanyanand has sent shockwaves across educational institutions, raising concerns over the safety of female students in professional and academic environments and the urgent need for stricter oversight mechanisms.