Who Is Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati? Delhi Godman Accused Of Sexual Harassment

Known as Parthasarathy, Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati is a self-proclaimed spiritual leader who formerly served as the director of a private engineering and management institute in Delhi's Vasant Kunj. He cultivated a public image as a religious authority while simultaneously managing the educational institution, which was affiliated with a prominent ashram.

Sexual Harassment Accusation

Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati has been charged with the sexual harassment of female students. The students who filed the complaints were enrolled in a postgraduate management diploma program at the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management, which was headed by the accused. They were all attending the institute on scholarships for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS).

A total of 17 students have come forward with allegations of verbal abuse, sending lewd text and WhatsApp messages, and making unwanted physical contact.

The victims have alleged that Chaitanyananda Saraswati used blackmail and threats against them. They also claimed that he was aided by three female faculty and administrators, who allegedly pressured them to comply with his demands. Although the police have questioned the three women, sources indicate that their full role in the case will only be revealed once the Swami is apprehended.

Ongoing investigation

The Delhi Police are actively searching for Chaitanyananda Saraswati, who was last sighted near Agra and is reportedly changing locations to evade capture.

Authorities have conducted raids at his known addresses and the institute, and they are currently analysing CCTV footage.

During the search, a luxury red Volvo was found in the institution’s basement with a fake United Nations number plate (39 UN 1).

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Ashram severs ties

Following the allegations, the Sri Sharada Peetham in Sringeri cut all ties with Chaitanyananda Saraswati.

In a statement, the Peetham confirmed that it had disowned him due to his "illegal, inappropriate, and detrimental" activities and had also filed official complaints with authorities regarding his unlawful conduct.

Prior allegations

According to reports, Chaitanyananda Saraswati has a history of alleged molestation, with previous cases filed against him in 2006 and 2016, pointing to a pattern of misconduct. He is still being pursued by the police, and the investigation remains active.

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