Self-styled godman sent to 14-day judicial custody

A Delhi court on Friday remanded self-styled godman Chaitanyanand Saraswati, alias Parthasarthy, to 14-day judicial custody in connection with an alleged molestation case involving 17 female students at an educational institute in Vasant Kunj here. He will remain in custody till October 17.

Chaitanyanand was produced in the court after the completion of his five-day police custody. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Animesh Kumar of the Patiala House Court passed the remand order after Delhi Police moved an application seeking his judicial custody.

During the proceedings, senior advocate Ajay Burman, along with advocate Manish Gandhi, represented the accused. The defence counsel also filed applications requesting permission for spectacles, holy books, medicines and sanyasi food for its client in custody, along with access to “Sanyasi Garb”.

The court allowed one plea for signing of the case diary by the judge, while seeking response from the Delhi Police on the remaining applications, which will be taken up on Saturday.

The defence further pressed for the supply of seizure memo and raised queries over the addition of a fresh section to the FIR. The investigating officer informed the court that the new section was invoked after a complaint alleging that a threat was issued at the instance of the accused.

The 62-year-old Baba was arrested from Agra on September 28. He is accused of sexually harassing 17 women students at a private institute in Delhi.

Investigators said they froze around Rs 8 crore linked to Chaitanyanand Saraswati in various bank accounts and fixed deposits.

According to the FIR, the former chairman of a management institute in southwest Delhi allegedly coerced female students into visiting his quarters late at night and sent them lewd text messages at odd hours. He is also suspected of monitoring their movements through his mobile phone.

During the probe, the police found that Saraswati allegedly opened multiple bank accounts using false names and particulars, withdrawing more than Rs 50 lakh after the FIR was filed. At the time of account creation, he is said to have furnished documents with altered details.

Officers further seized fake visiting cards portraying him as affiliated with the United Nations and BRICS.