Delhi Court Sends ‘Swami’ Chaitanyanand Saraswati to 14-Day Judicial Custody in Molestation Case

New Delhi, Oct 2025 : A Delhi court on Friday remanded ‘Swami’ Chaitanyanand Saraswati, also known as Partha Sarathy, to 14-day judicial custody in connection with a shocking case of sexual harassment and abuse involving 17 women students. The accused, who headed the prestigious Sri Sharda Institute of Indian Management in Vasant Kunj, was produced before Patiala House Court after the expiry of his five-day police custody.

Allegations and Arrest

The self-styled godman is facing grave charges of molesting female students enrolled in post-graduate management diploma courses under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) scholarship scheme. Investigators said that Chaitanyanand would routinely summon women students to his room late at night, threatening them with failure or reduced grades if they refused his advances.

He allegedly operated a “torture room” on the institute’s ground floor where he called female students for private meetings. Statements from three wardens, recorded by the police, suggest that they were instructed to bring the victims to him. Two women associates have also been detained and interrogated, though it remains unclear if they are among the wardens.

The case first came to light in early August when the Indian Air Force (IAF) headquarters filed a complaint against the accused, triggering a wider investigation. Soon after, Chaitanyanand fled on August 4, evading authorities for nearly two months. He was eventually arrested on September 28 at a hotel in Agra and produced before court, which initially granted police custody for questioning.

Evidence of Long-Term Abuse

According to investigators, the scandal may span nearly two decades. WhatsApp chats recovered from the phones of around 50 women students revealed explicit messages and accounts of forced sexual contact dating back 16 years. Officials also believe that Chaitanyanand escaped previous molestation charges filed against him in 2009 and 2016, which may have emboldened his misconduct.

Police also uncovered evidence of tampering with CCTV footage at the institute. The DVR system, suspected to have been deliberately wiped, has been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for forensic examination. Investigators are probing which cameras the accused had access to and how he used them to monitor or manipulate the movement of female students.

Multiple Complaints Filed

Seventeen women formally lodged complaints at the Defence Colony Police Station in early August, accusing the accused of harassment and intimidation. Their accounts, combined with the testimony of wardens and the evidence retrieved from digital devices, have provided investigators with a substantial body of proof.

Officials said the case gained momentum when multiple survivors came forward collectively, making it harder for the accused to silence or intimidate them. This surge of testimony forced authorities to take stricter action than in past instances.

Fake Credentials and Luxury Lifestyle

Further controversy surrounds Chaitanyanand’s use of fraudulent identities. During the probe, police seized his luxury red Volvo car, which bore multiple forged number plates carrying fake United Nations insignia and differing digits. Investigations confirmed that none of these plates were officially issued by the UN and had been fabricated by the accused.

He also carried two visiting cards. One identified him as a “BRICS Commission Member” and “Special Envoy from India,” while another described him as a “Permanent Ambassador” of the United Nations. Investigators have confirmed that these credentials were false and self-styled, apparently used to bolster his image and gain influence.

Judicial Proceedings Ahead

While police custody enabled investigators to question him and recover crucial evidence, Chaitanyanand will now remain in judicial custody for 14 days. This will allow further forensic analysis of digital evidence, CCTV records, and testimonies.

The unfolding case has shocked Delhi’s academic and religious circles, tarnishing the reputation of an institution once regarded as prestigious. Authorities say the scandal underscores the urgent need for accountability in educational institutions, particularly where vulnerable students rely on scholarships.

For now, the court’s order ensures that the accused remains behind bars, while the investigation continues to unravel a web of abuse, intimidation, and deceit spanning years.