Self-styled godman Chaitanyananda Saraswati, a former chairman of a private management institute in southwest Delhi, has been arrested in Agra for allegedly sexually harassing 17 female students. A Delhi court on Sunday remanded him to five days’ police custody.
According to police, the 62-year-old fled Delhi on August 4 after an FIR was registered against him. Acting on intelligence inputs, a police team tracked him to a hotel in Agra’s Taj Ganj area, where he was arrested around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Hotel staff confirmed that Chaitanyananda had checked in under the alias Partha Sarathi on September 27 and stayed in Room 101. Police recovered three mobile phones and an iPad from him; one phone allegedly contained access to CCTV feeds of the institute and hostel, through which he monitored students’ movements.
Investigators also revealed that the accused and his aides falsely claimed proximity to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to gain influence and evade law enforcement. While absconding, he frequently shifted between hotels in Vrindavan, Mathura, and Agra, often using taxis and low-cost lodgings to avoid detection.
During the court hearing, prosecutors argued that custodial interrogation was needed to confront him with victims’ statements, examine electronic evidence, and probe allegations that CCTV cameras—including some in bathrooms—were misused. The defence opposed the remand, but the magistrate ordered police custody until further investigation.
Police have also frozen ₹8 crore spread across multiple bank accounts and fixed deposits linked to the accused. Investigations revealed he allegedly used false documents and multiple identities to operate accounts, withdrawing over ₹50 lakh after the FIR was filed. Fake visiting cards suggesting ties with the United Nations and BRICS were also recovered.
The FIR states that Chaitanyananda coerced students to visit his quarters late at night, sent inappropriate messages, and closely tracked their movements. Further investigation into financial fraud, surveillance, and alleged harassment is ongoing.
Source:Africa Publicity
