Chaitanyananda Saraswati, 62, a self-styled godman and former chairman of Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management Research in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj, was arrested in Agra on Sunday, September 28, 2025, after weeks on the run.
The arrest followed a six-page FIR dated August 5, which included a statement from a 21-year-old student and references to 32 other women who reported repeated sexual harassment. The Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham, which owns the college, had already severed ties with him over alleged financial fraud.
Key Revelations:
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Mass Molestation: Multiple students accused him of repeated sexual harassment.
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Past Cases: He has five other cases lodged against him, including molestation charges from 2016.
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Fraud & Cheating: Police froze over Rs 8 crore across 18 bank accounts and 28 fixed deposits. Total cheating is estimated at Rs 122 crore. An audit revealed he diverted Rs 20 crore into a parallel trust in 2010.
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Fake Diplomatic Identity: He used nine fake UN-marked number plates and visiting cards falsely claiming to be “Permanent Ambassador to the UN” and “Special Envoy of India to BRICS.”
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PMO Link Claims: His aides falsely claimed he had connections with the Prime Minister’s Office, helping him gain influence and evade police while absconding.
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Forged Passports: Police recovered two passports with different names and details, indicating he had been traveling under false identities.
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Funds Embezzled: He allegedly absconded with Rs 55 lakh after being removed from the college’s directorship.
Police say the case involves both financial fraud and large-scale sexual exploitation, with further investigations underway