NEW DELHI: A self-styled godman and former chairman of a personal administration institute in southwest Delhi, Chaitanyananda Saraswati (62), also called Swami Parthasarathy, has been booked for sexually harassing 17 college students and allegedly monitoring ladies via hostel CCTV feeds, police stated on Thursday. Delhi Police Further Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) South West, Aishwarya Singh, confirmed to ANI that the investigation is ongoing, with police making efforts to apprehend the accused. A separate FIR was registered for the cast diplomatic quantity plate.Delhi Police are analyzing the roles of wardens and others, gathering digital proof, and looking premises. Statements of the victims have been recorded earlier than a judicial Justice of the Peace.Listed here are high developments
‘Godman’ allegedly screens ladies via cameras, together with exterior loos
Saraswati recurrently monitored the scholars and saved monitor of their actions via his cellphone, in response to a senior police officer stated. Saraswati is accused of utilizing his BMW automotive valued at Rs 1.5 crore to take feminine college students to Rishikesh beneath the pretext of “industrial visits”. The automotive was seized from the basement of the institute, and police stated its dashcam footage can be examined. Other than the cameras put in within the institute, CCTV surveillance was additionally positioned within the hostel foyer and out of doors the loos. The hostel lodges round 75 feminine college students from the economically weaker part (EWS) class. Investigators acknowledged that the accused tampered with the institute’s digital video recorder (DVR) system, resulting in the destruction of essential CCTV proof. Nevertheless, police consider the dashcam of the BMW could present some materials proof.
Saraswati turns one a part of workplace into ‘torture chamber’; Police denies
Information company sources claimed that Saraswati transformed his ground-floor workplace within the institute right into a “torture chamber” the place feminine students, notably these from the EWS class, have been allegedly exploited. Nevertheless, DCP (Southwest) Amit Goel clarified that no such chamber was discovered through the searches. Police indicated that the investigation additionally revealed Saraswati tightened his management over the institute by allegedly subletting the properties of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, which runs it, to non-public firms for monetary good points. “He reportedly used the proceeds to buy high-end luxurious automobiles,” an officer stated.
Automotive, solid diplomatic quantity, seized
Up to now, two vehicles have been traced to Saraswati—a Volvo carrying a solid diplomatic quantity plate, ’39 UN 1′, registered to a pretend tackle, and a BMW he bought in March. “After shopping for the BMW, he carried out a pooja together with the institute’s feminine college students, drove them round and performed songs whereas making inappropriate feedback. He additionally used the identical automotive to take them to Rishikesh for an industrial go to,” the FIR stated. Based on police, the accused’s final lively location was traced to Mumbai, based mostly on inputs of overseas journey and return. He’s suspected to have travelled overseas just lately, intentionally avoiding digital units and disguising his look to evade arrest, police stated.
Delhi Police points lookout round
Delhi Police has issued a lookout round towards self-styled godman, an official stated on Wednesday. “A lookout round (LOC) has been issued towards him to forestall any try to flee the nation,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Amit Goel stated. The officer additional stated that a number of police groups are conducting raids throughout Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand in reference to the case.
Delhi ‘godman’ on the run; 5 FIRs
The case towards Saraswati has been registered beneath sections 75(2) (sexual harassment), 79 (phrase, gesture or act supposed to insult the modesty of a lady), and 351(2) (prison intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Vasant Kunj North police station. He’s at present on the run. With the most recent FIR, he now faces 5 instances, together with these associated to sexual harassment, fraud and forgery.In 2009, he was booked in a case of fraud and harassment at Defence Colony police station. In 2016, a pupil from the institute filed a molestation grievance towards him at Vasant Kunj police station, resulting in his arrest by Delhi Police.He was chargesheeted and later launched on bail, however continued to work on the institute regardless of the pending case. This yr, three extra instances have been registered towards him — one by which 17 ladies alleged sexual harassment, one other involving using a pretend quantity plate, and a grievance filed for allegedly dishonest the mathematics (monastic belief).
‘Child, I really like you. I am keen on you, you’re looking stunning at present’: New WhatsApp message reveal
Based on the FIR, the coed first interacted with Chaitanyananda final yr and instantly felt uncomfortable.“He initially checked out me weirdly and demotivated me,” she stated.After sustaining an damage, the coed stated she was requested to share her medical studies.Quickly after, Chaitanyananda started sending inappropriate WhatsApp messages at odd hours, together with feedback similar to, “Child, I really like you. I am keen on you, you’re looking stunning at present,” and remarks about her hair.Investigators stated he allegedly despatched messages similar to, “Come to my room. I am going to take you overseas, no value,” and threatened, “when you do not obey me, I’ll fail you” in the event that they refused to conform.