Delhi Baba Scandal: Chaitanyananda Targeted Underprivileged Students; FIR Reveals How IAF Officer’s Letter Led To Action

The Delhi police on Thursday filed an FIR  against Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, who was accused of sexually harassing female students of the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management, in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj. The FIR was filed after the management of the institute lodged a complaint alleging that during a virtual interaction with more than 30 female students, several among them revealed instances of sexual harassment and intimidation by Chaitanyananda.

Police said a case has been registered at Vasant Kunj North police station, and an investigation is underway. Multiple teams have been formed to nab the accused, and a lookout circular has also been issued to prevent him from fleeing the country.

ALSO READ: 'Come To My Room': Swami Chaitanyananda’s Lewd Texts To Female Students Surface Amid Sexual Harassment Case

What FIR Against Chaitanyananda Reveals?

According to the FIR, the chain of events began on July 31, when the management of Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management-Research received a letter from a former student. In her written complaint, the alumna accused Chaitanyananda Saraswati, who was the institute’s director, of sexually harassing students during his tenure.

The institute further received a complaint the very next day via an email from a Group Captain rank officer in the Directorate of Education of the Indian Air Force. The email contained details of the complaints flagged by several students, who accused the institute’s director of threatening them with obscene and offensive language. According to a report by NDTV, the letter from the IAF official came as many students at the institute are related to families of Air Force officials.

ALO READ: 17 Girl Students Accuse Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, Head Of Delhi Management Institute, Of Molestation

Prompted by these alerts, the institute swiftly lodged a police complaint and filed a 300-page documentary evidence against the self-styled godman. The police then recorded the statements of students, and an FIR was registered. The institute also revoked his power of attorney, removed the accused from administrative control, and constituted a new 11-member governing council.

After the formation of the new council, 30 women came to the fore and spoke about their harrowing experiences on August 3. Many of them alleged that the students who were the victims of the Chaitanyananda belonged to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). The women even complained of receiving dirty messages from the accused and threatened them to withhold the academic documents if they did not respond. 

Additionally, women also complained of illegal installations of CCTV cameras in the hostel under the pretext of providing security. So far, three employees, including the Associate Dean, have been named in the FIR for allegedly helping the accused. 

ALSO READ: Delhi Ashram Baba, Chaitanyananda Saraswati Booked On Charges Of Alleged Sexual Harassment

Meanwhile, the Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham in Karnataka's Sringeri, with whom Swami Chaitanyanada was associated, has issued a statement condemning the entire incident and distanced itself from him.

"The public is hereby informed that Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, formerly known as Swami (Dr.) Parthasarathy has engaged in activities that are illegal, inappropriate, and detrimental to the interests of Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri (Peetham). As a result, the Peetham has severed all ties with him," the statement read.