A self-styled godman, Chaitanyananda Saraswati, is facing serious accusations of exploiting female students at an ashram in Delhi. The scandal has erupted after multiple women came forward with allegations of molestation, harassment, and fraud.

The accused, formerly known as Swami Parthasarathy, originally hails from Odisha. He served as the director of the Sri Sharda Institute of Indian Management, which is run by the Sri Sringeri Math, and resided at the Vasant Kunj ashram for the past 12 years. Following the allegations, he has been removed from his position.

The current case against Chaitanyananda involves complaints from Post-Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) students at the institute. Out of 32 statements recorded, 17 students have alleged abusive language, obscene WhatsApp messages, and unwanted physical contact. India Today has accessed exclusive chats revealing that the accused invited students to his room, promising foreign trips without expenses, and threatening to fail them if they did not comply. The messages included threats like, "If you don't listen to me, I will fail you".

Adding a disturbing layer to the accusations, three women administrators and teachers are also implicated for allegedly assisting Chaitanyananda. Victims claim that faculty members pressured them to comply with the demands of the accused. Delhi Police are investigating the role of these wardens, who reportedly sent students to Chaitanyananda after he summoned them via WhatsApp.

The police have registered FIRs and are conducting raids across five states to apprehend Chaitanyananda, who is currently absconding. His last known location was traced to Agra. Authorities are also re-examining previous cases against him to build a more comprehensive profile of his misconduct. It has been reported that some chats were deleted by the accused and the administrators. Statements from victims have been recorded before a magistrate.

This isn't Chaitanyananda's first encounter with the law. In 2009, a case involving fraud and molestation was filed against him in Defence Colony. Another complaint was registered in Vasant Kunj in 2016 by a woman alleging sexual harassment. The police are also investigating a complaint filed in August regarding the use of a forged UN number.

The Sri Sringeri Math, which runs the Sri Sharda Institute of Indian Management, has also lodged complaints with authorities regarding the illegal acts committed by Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati.

The case has ignited debate about sexual misconduct within religious institutions. Several other prominent religious leaders in India have faced similar accusations in recent years. These include figures like Asaram Bapu, Narayan Sai, Swami Nithyananda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, Swami Premananda, Sant Rampal, and Swami Bhimanand.

The Delhi Police have opened a Look-Out Circular (LOC) against Chaitanyananda. He had attempted to obtain anticipatory bail, but his lawyer withdrew the petition after the Delhi Police filed their reply. The police investigation reveals evidence of tampered CCTV footage.