• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Delhi Ashram Scandal: In a major turn of events in the Delhi ashram scandal, accused Swami Chaitanyananda has been arrested from Agra for molesting 17 women in the Ashram. The self-styled ‘godman’ sexually harassed women at the Ashram, who is the 'director' of a privately-run management institute, the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management in Delhi's posh Vasant Kunj area.

Complaints against Baba Chaitanyananda range from using abusive language, sending lewd text messages to women, and forced physical contact.

ALSO READ: From Pahalgam To Global Threats: Jaishankar Exposes Pakistan In Fiery UNGA Speech On Terrorism | Top Quotes

Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, alias Partha Sarathy, is accused of molesting students, pursuing a post-graduate management diploma at the management institute with a scholarship under the economically weaker section (EWS) category.

Lewd WhatsApp Messages To Students

The WhatsApp messages sent by Baba to female students revealed that Chaitanyananda sent lewd texts to a student, luring her with a free trip abroad if she came to his room.

“Come to my room… I’ll take you on a trip abroad, you won’t have to pay anything,” reads one of the messages recovered from the phone of a female student at the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management in Vasant Kunj.

Similar WhatsApp messages were recovered from the mobile phones of over 50 students, revealing details of the abuse spanning 16 years.

Students revealed that some wardens at the hostel had introduced them to Baba, who had secretly installed CCTV cameras in the hostel.

Searches Took Place In Haryana, UP, Rajasthan Others

Talking about the search operations carried out to nab Chaitanyananda, DCP South-West, Amit Goel said, "We had formed a team and for the last three days we were carrying out searches in various states- Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, and even West Bengal to look for Partha Sarty".

Goel further said, "We received success last night when we were able to nab him in Agra. He was identified, apprehended, and brought to Delhi. Further investigation will follow. We have recovered three phones and one iPad, which will be investigated. Fake visiting cards have also been recovered, which showed him as an official of the Government of India representing BRICS and the UN... He was changing his location every day to evade arrest. Living mainly in Mathura, Vrindavan, and Agra... He has been arrested in the molestation case and we will seek his police remand today."

Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetha Angle

The accused headed a branch of a prominent South Indian ashram, Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetha in Sringeri. The religious body has called Chaitanyananda’s action ‘inappropriate’.

ALSO READ: Karur Stampede Live: 'Shattered, Writhing,' Vijay Reacts After Tragedy Leaves 36 Killed | Updates

Baba Chaitanyananda's Previous Cases

Despite two prior molestation complaints against him in 2009 and 2016, Chaitanyananda appears to have evaded consequences.

Chaitanyananda would first approach students with seemingly innocuous texts. He would start threatening them to fail if the desired response wasn’t received.

Also In News