17 female students, belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category, have alleged that they were harassed or sexually assaulted by Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati. File
A Delhi court on Friday (September 26, 2025) refused to grant anticipatory bail to Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, director of the Shri Sharada Institute of Indian Management and Research in Vasant Kunj, who has been accused of sexual harassment of female students, cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy.Mr. Chaitanyananda, who is currently absconding, was last traced to Agra.While dismissing the bail plea, Judge Hardeep Kaur of the Patiala House Courts said the nature of the accusations and gravity of offences “warrants custodial interrogation”.The Delhi police opposed Mr. Chaitanyananda’s bail and submitted that he used CCTVs to tracks the students. He also sent coercive text messages to the female students and compelled them to come to his quarters, they added.17 female students, belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category, have alleged that they were harassed or sexually assaulted by the accused. An investigation has revealed that he targetted EWS students believing that they would not approach the police.Later, the police also added charges of cheating and forgery after their probe revealed Mr. Chaitanyananda was illegally subletting properties of the Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham - the trust which runs the management institute - to private companies for personal financial gains.The court noted the allegations that Mr. Chaitanyananda fabricated All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) records, and that he was also operating an account of Union Bank of India in two different names. He also allegedly forged documents to obtain two passports under different names, it noted.The matter came to light after P.A. Murali, the CEO of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, lodged a complaint at the Vasant Kunj (North) police station on August 4. Published - September 26, 2025 03:04 pm IST
