Delhi: Ex-director sexually harassed 17 female students, says report
Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, former director of Delhi's Sri Sharada Institute, is being questioned for allegedly sexually molesting 17 female students—most from the EWS scholarship scheme.
He reportedly called them to a "torture room"—a ground floor room where he held private meetings with female students and which is under investigation as a possible site of harassment—and threatened to harm their academic records if they resisted.
Accused evaded arrest for over a month
Chaitanyananda was arrested in Agra on September 28, 2024 after evading police since early August.
He now faces charges of sexual harassment, financial fraud, forgery, and past molestation complaints dating back to 2009 and 2016.
Police have five days to question him about deleted CCTV footage and evidence that suggests abuse went on for over 16 years.
Investigators have also uncovered forged documents and financial irregularities involving a separate trust.
Three wardens are suspected of helping destroy evidence as the probe continues.