![Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati being taken to Delhi following his arrest [Image source: Delhi Police]](https://img.theweek.in/content/dam/week/news/india/images/2025/6/chaitanyananda-saraswati-arrest-delhi-police.jpg.image.340.191.jpg "Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati being taken to Delhi following his arrest [Image source: Delhi Police]")
Self-styled godman Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, accused of sexually harassing 17 female students at a private institute in Delhi, was arrested from Agra, police said on Sunday.
Saraswati (62), alias Partha Sarathy, was the ‘director’ of the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management, an institution under the Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetha in Sringeri. Following the sexual harassment allegations, the ashram expelled him from the post.
Saraswati is also facing allegations of cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy. He had been absconding since the Delhi police filed a case against him earlier this week.
The accused has been charged under sections 75(2) (sexual harassment), 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Vasant Kunj North police station.
Delhi Police apprehended Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati @ Parth Sarthy, late at night, from Agra.
— ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2025
He is accused of allegedly molesting female students pursuing PGDM courses under the EWS scholarship and forgery.
(Pic Source: Delhi Police) pic.twitter.com/m2cpaRsnln
The arrest came two days after the Delhi High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail petition.
According to police, Saraswati allegedly tracked women through hostel CCTV feeds, including cameras installed outside washrooms and those across the campus, directly on his phone.
He is also accused of using his BMW car valued at Rs 1.5 crore to take female students to Rishikesh under the pretext of "industrial visits". Police have already seized the car from the basement of the institute.
The investigators believe the dashcam of the BMW may provide some material evidence.
There were reports that Saraswati converted his ground-floor office in the institute into a torture chamber where female scholars were allegedly exploited. However, police said no such chamber could be found during the investigation.
On Friday, the Delhi police had frozen nearly Rs 8 crore linked to Saraswati. The amount was spread across 18 bank accounts and 28 fixed deposits.
According to police, the money belonged to a trust floated by Saraswati, which allegedly received huge donations and contributions.
The accused also allegedly forged documents, obtained two passports in different names and operated multiple bank accounts in different names, it noted.
