Self-styled godman Chaitanyananda Saraswati sent to 5-day police custody by Delhi court

Synopsis
Self-styled godman Chaitanyananda Saraswati faces five days of police custody. He was arrested in Agra for molesting female students at a Vasant Kunj institute. Saraswati, a former college chairman, allegedly created a zone of fear in the hostel. He used remote CCTV access and tampered with DVR systems. Financial misconduct charges also emerged against him.
Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, also known as Parthasarathy, was the former chairman of a management college in southwest Delhi. He is accused of turning the women’s hostel into a “zone of fear,” according to TOI.
He reportedly maintained a private accommodation within the 75-bed hostel and had remote access to its CCTV cameras on his phone, allowing him to keep constant watch over the students.
Investigations revealed that he allegedly tampered with the institute’s DVR system, erasing crucial footage. Cameras were reportedly installed in lobbies and near washroom areas under the pretext of security, which he allegedly used to intimidate students.
The FIR states that he regularly threatened students with suspension or rustication, making it difficult for parents to intervene. Former students alleged that Saraswati coerced one girl into changing her name and made others wait for hours in his cabin with promises of better marks, placements, and tour opportunities.
The inquiry also uncovered alleged financial misconduct. Saraswati reportedly sublet institute property to private companies and used the funds to buy luxury vehicles, including a BMW, which police later seized. Victims recounted instances where he forcibly took female students out in his cars, adding to the climate of fear he cultivated in the hostel.
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