Self-styled godman nabbed from Agra

Self-styled ‘godman’ Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, who is accused of sexually harassing 17 female students and embezzling funds from a Delhi-based management institute, was arrested late on Saturday night from a hotel in Agra.

The 62-year-old ‘Baba’ had been absconding for nearly 50 days after several FIRs were registered against him.

“He was finally caught in Agra late on Saturday and was brought to Delhi,” said Amit Goel, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest).

The police said the accused was continuously changing his appearance and hideouts to evade arrest. More than five teams were working to trace him.

The case stems from complaints filed in August by female students at the

Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management Research in Vasant Kunj, where Saraswati served as chairman.

According to the FIR, 17 women alleged that he sent obscene WhatsApp messages, used abusive language and made unwanted physical contact.

“The complainant alleged that the accused, who was heading the college, was sexually harassing female students pursuing PGDM courses under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) scholarship,” DCP Goel had told the media.

“During the enquiry, statements of 32 female students were recorded. Out of this, 17 alleged harassment,” the DCP said.

Students further alleged that wardens and faculty members introduced them to the godman and pressured them to comply with his demands. Several women said they were lured with promises of foreign trips. Police investigations revealed that Saraswati had secretly installed cameras in the women’s hostel.

The complainants told the police that Saraswati and his aides threatened students with expulsion or failure if they resisted his advances.

Alongside the molestation charges, Saraswati faces cases of cheating, forgery and conspiracy. Court documents show he allegedly created a fraudulent trust to divert funds and properties belonging to the institute and the Sringeri-based Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, under which the Delhi institute operates.

Investigators said he opened several bank accounts under different names and withdrew over Rs 50 lakh after the FIR was filed. The police have frozen more than Rs 8 crore across 18 bank accounts and 28 fixed deposits, and seized nine fake diplomatic car number plates with “UN” markings.

On Friday, a Delhi court dismissed Saraswati’s anticipatory bail plea.

Police records show that Saraswati has five cases registered against him. The first was filed in 2009 at Defence Colony, followed by a molestation case in 2016. Three fresh FIRs were lodged this year for molestation, cheating and forgery.

The Sringeri-based religious body has since severed ties with Saraswati.