The Delhi Police on Monday continued its interrogation of self-styled godman Chaitanyananda Saraswati (also known as Partha Sarathy) following his arrest in Agra on Sunday. The questioning is in connection with severe allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against female students at the Sri Sharda Institute of Indian Management in Delhi.
Earlier this morning, police officials escorted Saraswati to the Vasant Kunj institute and questioned him inside the specific room where he is alleged to have called female students. He was also pressed for details regarding the surveillance cameras he had access to on campus. After the site visit, he was brought back to the police station for further interrogation by senior officers.
A day earlier, the Patiala House Court in Delhi had sent Chaitanyananda Saraswati to five days of police custody for a thorough investigation.
Defence Alleges “Huge Conspiracy”
The lawyer representing Chaitanyananda Saraswati, Manish Gandhi, contested the allegations, claiming the case is part of a “huge conspiracy.”
Speaking to a news agency, Gandhi stated, “A five-day remand was sought by the police. We also filed certain applications, which the judge granted… There’s a huge conspiracy behind this. The issue is something else. Some very prominent people are involved in this, whose names we will soon disclose…”
Forged Diplomatic Documents Recovered
The investigation has also uncovered evidence of alleged fraudulent activities. Police recovered multiple items from Saraswati, including three mobile phones, an iPad, and two fake visiting cards that falsely projected him as a high-ranking diplomat.
One of the recovered cards claimed he was a Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations, and the other described him as a member of the BRICS Joint Commission and a Special Envoy of India.
Background of the Allegations
The case against Saraswati stems from a complaint filed at the Vasant Kunj North Police Station on September 23. The FIR accuses Chaitanyananda Saraswati of multiple acts of sexual harassment and misconduct against female students, many of whom were enrolled in the Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) course under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) scholarship at the institute.
The Sri Sharda Institute of Indian Management is reportedly affiliated with the Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri. However, the complaint also noted that the Sri Sharada Peetham had revoked the Powers of Attorney issued to Saraswati back in 2008.