Baba sent to 5-day police custody

A Delhi court on Sunday sent self-styled godman Chaitanyananda Saraswati, accused of sexually harassing women students at a private management institute, to five-day police custody. Duty Magistrate Ravi of the Patiala House Court passed the order after lengthy arguments between the prosecution, the complainants’ counsel, and the defence.

The 62-year-old Baba, wanted in multiple cases of sexual harassment and cheating, was arrested earlier in the day from a hotel in Agra. He was produced before the court around 3.40 pm after undergoing medical examination. The prosecution pressed for custodial interrogation, insisting that the accused had to be confronted with the victims’ statements and digital evidence already collected.

According to the prosecution, Saraswati molested several women, sought sexual favours and threatened them into silence. Sixteen women had come forward so far, and investigators claimed CCTV cameras, including some allegedly fixed inside bathrooms, were used to monitor their movements.

“Threats were issued to women who dared to complain. A witness has categorically said she would be picked up if she spoke. This investigation is at a delicate stage, and the accused must be questioned in custody,” the complainant’s advocate argued.

The prosecution further submitted that Saraswati had failed to share passwords of his iPad and iCloud accounts, rendering the seizure of devices incomplete without custodial confrontation.

The police said they had already frozen around Rs 8 crore lying in several bank accounts and fixed deposits, and uncovered documents showing that Saraswati had used false particulars to operate multiple accounts. More than Rs 50 lakh was withdrawn even after registration of the FIR. Fake visiting cards, portraying his alleged association with the United Nations and BRICS, were also recovered.

The counsel for the complainant maintained that the accused had been evading investigation for two months. “He has joined the probe for the first time today. His conduct has shown he is not cooperating. Mere seizure is not sufficient, police custody is essential,” he submitted.

The defence counsel, however, called the request for remand an attempt to “harass a monk stripped of his robes”. He claimed his client was diabetic, suffering from anxiety, and had already surrendered his phones, iPad and luggage. “You have recorded statements of 16 to 20 women already. My client’s robes have been taken, he is unwell and you only seek custody to torment him. If you fear intimidation of witnesses, judicial custody is enough,” the counsel argued.

The defence also countered the prosecution’s reliance on electronic evidence. “They claim to have data from 40 CCTV cameras. Let them show the requirement of police custody. My client’s conduct has nothing to do with the remand sought,” the lawyer submitted.

After hearing both sides, Duty Magistrate Ravi remanded Saraswati to police custody for five days, directing investigators to confront him with the evidence and witness statements gathered so far.

The case, registered under charges of sexual harassment and cheating, alleges that Saraswati, a former chairman of a management institute in southwest Delhi, coerced female students to visit his quarters late at night, sent them inappropriate messages at odd hours, and monitored their movements through electronic surveillance.