Delhi management institute’s godman-director booked for molesting 16 female students

Delhi police has registered a case against a self-styled godman, identified as Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, also known as Parth Sarthy, for allegedly sexually harassing at least 16 female students of a management institute in the city, as per a PTI report.

The report added that police have conducted raids and surveillance operations, but the accused —who is a member of the institute's management committee — remains on the run, evading arrest since the case was filed.

The complaint was lodged on August 4, under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, at the Vasant Kunj North Police Station. Sixteen victims have since deposed before a magistrate.

What have the students alleged?

As per the report, 32 female students enrolled in the Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) course under the EWS scholarship at Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management have recorded statements with the Vasant Kunj police.

Of these, 17 students have alleged that Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati used abusive language, sent obscene messages, and made unwanted physical advances.

Students told the police that some faculty members and administrators also pressured them to comply with his demands, police told the news agency.

Delhi police investigation: What we know so far

• The students' statements were recorded before a magistrate under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
• Speaking to ANI, DCP (South West) Amit Goel said, “The accused has been traced near Agra and he will be arrested soon.”
• During the investigation, police recovered a luxury red Volvo car belonging to the accused and sporting fake United Nations number plates (39 UN 1). Police confirmed the plates were fabricated and not formally issued.
• Police said a second FIR was lodged on August 25, and the vehicle was seized.
• “The accused has a luxury car with a fake number plate bearing UN's number. The car has been impounded, and upon further investigation, it was found that no such number has been issued. The accused's location is being traced by the police,” an official told ANI on September 24.
• The accused had earlier applied for anticipatory bail, but later withdrew the plea, authorities added.
• Sources told the agency that the institute's management has removed the accused from his position and is cooperating with the police investigation.

Delhi police solve blind hit-and-run case

Meanwhile, in another operation, Delhi Police said it has solved a blind hit-and-run case within eight days by apprehending the accused and recovering the offending vehicle in the South West district, ANI reported.

According to the police, on September 15, at around 1 pm, a PCR call was received at Vasant Vihar police station, reporting that a car belonging to Mayank Jain had been hit by another car between 2 am and 3 am at the Munirka flyover.

When Jain stepped out of his vehicle, the driver allegedly hit him deliberately and fled from the scene. Jain, who sustained injuries, was admitted to RR Hospital, Dhaula Kuan, for treatment. Based on the complaint, a case under FIR No 221/25 was registered at Vasant Vihar police station.

Police stated that more than 200 CCTV cameras installed along the Ring Road and its adjoining areas were scanned during the investigation. A suspected car with a broken front glass was identified.

On verification, it was found that the registered owner of the vehicle had passed away two years ago, and the car was being used by his family members. During analysis of call records and route mapping through CCTV footage, it was established that Gaurav Bhardwaj, a resident of Greater Kailash Enclave-I, had taken the car to Dwarka on the night of the incident.

Police later found that the accused had replaced the damaged front glass at a mechanic shop in GK-I the next day. The broken glass was also recovered on September 20. On September 22, Bhardwaj was apprehended and, during interrogation, he confessed to the crime.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)