New Delhi: A major investigation is underway in Delhi after a self-styled godman, Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, was accused of sexual harassment and intimidation by female students at the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management in Vasant Kunj. The allegations came to light after the institute’s management filed a complaint following a virtual interaction where over 30 female students shared their experiences of abuse and coercion.
The police have registered a case based on an FIR that details a pattern of harassment and intimidation by Chaitanyananda, who previously went by the name Swami (Dr.) Parthasarathy. According to the complaint, students were allegedly threatened with suspension or the withholding of their degrees if they resisted his advances. The FIR also states that students from economically weaker backgrounds were forced to visit his quarters late at night.
One student, a 21-year-old scholarship recipient, recounted her ordeal to The Indian Express, stating that Chaitanyananda, who was the institute’s chancellor, began sending her inappropriate messages at “odd hours.” The messages allegedly included comments like, “Baby, I love you. I adore you, you are looking beautiful today,” along with remarks about her hair. The student claimed that if she didn’t respond, he would tag his previous messages to force a reply.
She further alleged that when she informed the associate dean about the harassment, she was told that she “had to reply since he was the Head” and that the situation had been “previously explained to some senior students.” After she resisted his advances, she claimed that notices were issued to her regarding her attendance and that marks were “unnecessarily deducted” from her exam papers. She also alleged that during a trip to Rishikesh, Chaitanyananda made inappropriate remarks to her and other women.
The FIR also alleges that one female student was “forced to change her name” and made to delete messages from her phone to destroy evidence. The institute’s management also named three women wardens as co-accused, alleging they would coerce students to comply with Chaitanyananda’s demands and pressure them to delete messages.
In a separate development, police found a Volvo car with a forged diplomatic number plate—”39 UN 1″—in the institute’s basement, which was reportedly used by the godman. The police have registered a second case for the forged number plate. Multiple police teams have been formed to nab the accused, and a lookout circular has been issued to prevent him from leaving the country.
The Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham in Sringeri, with which Saraswati was previously associated, has issued a public statement distancing itself from him.