A case has been registered against Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati
32 students gave statements, and 17 accused Swami Chaitanyananda of harassment.
The Sringeri-based Sharada Peetham removed him from his post.
The director of a management institute affiliated with a prominent ashram in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj has been booked for allegedly molesting and harassing several women students. The accused, Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, also known as Parth Sarthy, is currently on the run and was last traced near Agra, police said.
According to investigators, statements were recorded from 32 students, of which 17 directly accused the swami of sexual harassment. The victims alleged that he sent them obscene messages on WhatsApp and SMS, used abusive language, and made unwanted physical advances. Some students further claimed that a few women faculty members and administrative staff pressured them to comply with the swami’s demands.
A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (BNS) law, and police have launched a detailed investigation. CCTV footage from the institute has been analysed, and multiple raids have been conducted at the ashram and the accused’s residences. During the probe, officers seized a red Volvo car from the basement of the institute. The car is said to be belonging to Chaitanyananda, which carried a forged diplomatic number plate (39 UN 1). Despite these efforts, the accused remains missing.
Following the allegations, the Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri, which manages the Delhi unit, dismissed Chaitanyananda from his post. In an official statement, Peetham condemned his “illegal and inappropriate activities,” stating that they had damaged the institution’s reputation. It has also lodged formal complaints with authorities.
The accused headed the Sri Sharda Institute of Indian Management, which offers PGDM courses to students, including those enrolled under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) scholarship scheme. Police are continuing their search for the absconding swami while also investigating the forged number plate and possible misuse of power. The case has sparked widespread concern over student safety in educational and religious institutions.
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