Chaitanyananda Saraswati Arrested in Agra After Weeks on the Run; Accused of Sexual Harassment and Fraud
New Delhi | September 28, 2025 After weeks of evading police, controversial godman and academic Chaitanyananda Saraswati was arrested late Saturday in Agra. The 62-year-old former chairman of the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management Research (Sri SIIM) in Vasant Kunj had been absconding since August following multiple complaints of sexual harassment, molestation, and large-scale financial irregularities. DCP (Southwest) Amit Goel confirmed the arrest and said Saraswati was being brought back to Delhi for questioning. According to officials, the accused deliberately altered his appearance and frequently shifted hideouts to escape capture. More than five police teams were deployed in the manhunt before he was tracked down. Police began their probe after several students came forward with allegations against Saraswati, accusing him of systematic sexual harassment. FIRs were lodged on the basis of these complaints, which included accusations of molestation, intimidation, and inappropriate late-night messages sent to female students. The case widened as investigators also uncovered serious financial irregularities linked to a trust valued at ₹122 crore. During the inquiry, officers collected CCTV footage from the institute and seized hard disks and NVRs, which were later sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). Statements of at least 16 victims were recorded before a magistrate at Patiala House Court. In addition, testimonies from 32 female students revealed disturbing details—17 of them alleged they had received obscene WhatsApp messages from Saraswati, endured abusive language, or experienced unwelcome physical contact. Some also claimed that women in administrative roles pressured them to comply with his demands. Based on these revelations, police filed cases under sections related to sexual harassment, outraging the modesty of women, and criminal intimidation. Apart from the sexual misconduct allegations, investigators uncovered financial crimes linked to Saraswati. Authorities froze ₹8 crore spread across 18 bank accounts and 28 fixed deposits under his name. He was also booked for allegedly using nine fake diplomatic car number plates, some bearing “UN” markings, to project undue influence and evade scrutiny. This is not the first time Saraswati has faced legal trouble. Police records show a history of cases spanning over a decade. His first case was lodged in 2009 at Defence Colony, while a second molestation complaint was registered by a student in Vasant Kunj in 2016. Three more FIRs were filed this year, covering offences such as molestation, forgery, cheating, and other related crimes. “The accused continuously changed his appearance, making it difficult for us to pin him down,” said DCP Goel, noting that the arrest in Agra came after an extensive search across multiple states. Saraswati’s arrest marks a major breakthrough in a case that has shocked both the academic and spiritual communities. As investigations progress, police are expected to file supplementary chargesheets detailing the extent of financial mismanagement and the network of enablers who allegedly supported his Chaitanyananda Saraswati Arrested in Agra After weeks on the run, Chaitanyananda Saraswati, ex-chairman of Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management Research, was arrested in Agra. He had been absconding since August after facing multiple FIRs for sexual harassment, molestation, and financial fraud linked to a ₹122 crore trust. Police said he kept changing his appearance and hideouts to evade capture. Investigations revealed obscene messages, intimidation, and physical misconduct against students. Authorities have also frozen ₹8 crore across his accounts and seized fake diplomatic car plates. He now faces five criminal cases spanning from 2009 to 2025.
