Swami Chaitanyananda, also known as Parth Sarthy, was remanded to 14-day judicial custody in Delhi following allegations of sexual harassment, molestation of female students, and forgery. Delhi Police recovered forged documents and devices during the ongoing investigation.
A Delhi Court on Friday sent Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, also known as Parth Sarthy, to 14-day judicial custody following serious allegations of sexual harassment, molestation of female students, and forgery.
Judicial Magistrate Animesh Kumar of Patiala House Court passed the order after the accused was presented before the court at the end of his five-day police custody. Chaitanyananda was produced before the Court after completing the police custody period.
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Delhi Police had requested judicial remand, citing the seriousness of the offences and the need to prevent tampering with evidence and influencing witnesses.
The Court also received responses from the police on three applications filed on behalf of Chaitanyananda, which sought the supply of seizure memos, permission to sign the case diary, and provision of Sanyasi food, Sanyasi garb, medicines, and books.
The accused was initially produced before Duty Magistrate Ravi on September 28 after being arrested by the Delhi Police Crime Branch from Agra late on September 27 night.
Chaitanyananda, who had been evading the police for several days, underwent a medical examination at Safdarjung Hospital before being brought to court.
According to DCP (South-West) Amit Goel, a special police team tracked him across Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal before finally arresting him in Agra.
Days before his arrest, a former student who had first lodged an FIR against him in 2016 came forward with new disclosures. According to media reports, she alleged that her original complaint of molestation and harassment was ignored.
She stated,
“She said that had authorities acted on her case nine years ago, many other women might not have suffered.”
The complainant also described systematic exploitation by Chaitanyananda, claiming that students’ laptops, phones, and educational documents were confiscated and withheld to exert control over them.
She further accused him of misleading students with false promises of foreign placements while subjecting them to unwanted advances.
Police informed the Court that they had recovered three mobile phones, an iPad, and fake visiting cards from the accused.
The seized cards falsely identified him as a Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations, a BRICS Joint Commission member, and a Special Envoy of India. Officials added that the devices and forged documents would be examined as part of the ongoing investigation.
The case against Chaitanyananda arises from an FIR lodged on September 23 at Vasant Kunj North Police Station, where multiple female students of the PGDM program under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) scholarship accused him of sexual harassment and misconduct.
The allegations also led the Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri, to revoke the Power of Attorney granted to him in 2008.
Representing Chaitanyananda, Advocate Manish Gandhi claimed,
“The case was part of a ‘larger conspiracy’ involving ‘very prominent individuals,’ and assured that their names would soon be disclosed.”
While granting police custody, the Court also allowed the defence applications for daily access during interrogation.
The police are investigating charges of sexual harassment, molestation, forgery, and impersonation of a government functionary.
Chaitanyananda faces allegations including: sending obscene messages, making unwanted physical contact, and using abusive language against students, many of whom were admitted under the EWS quota; siphoning funds from the Sringeri Math, allegedly diverting Rs 20 crore through a parallel trust and misappropriating around Rs 55 lakh; and obtaining a forged passport and falsifying documents to consolidate control over the institute.
In related developments, on September 26, a Delhi Court dismissed the anticipatory bail application filed by Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati in connection with a criminal case involving fraud, forgery, criminal breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds belonging to the Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri.
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Hardeep Kaur at Patiala House Court observed,
“The offences were serious in nature and required custodial interrogation to establish the full chain of alleged criminal acts.”
The bail application, filed under Section 482 BNSS (earlier Section 438 Cr.P.C.), was strongly opposed by the investigating officer and the complainant.
This case continues to unfold as Delhi Police probe the multiple charges, examining recovered devices, forged documents, and other evidence, while keeping the public informed about the investigation into the serious allegations against Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati.
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