The chancellor of a religious group-run institute situated in southern Delhi allegedly sent nude and inappropriate messages to women students and forced them to accompany him on foreign trips, and also to visit him in his room late at night.
Chaitanyananda Saraswati, the 60-year-old accused in the matter, is currently on the run, according to the police. An FIR was registered against him last month for sexual harassment, intent to insult the modesty of women, and criminal intimidation.
A total of 17 women students from the current and former batches of the institute, belonging to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), have alleged that Chaitanya Anand wanted physical contact with them. Raids are ongoing to arrest the accused. The police said on Wednesday that the religious group that runs the institute has reportedly cut all ties with him, according to a statement released by them. The institute also said that it will be cooperating with the police. According to the institute, on 19 July it gave a 300-page complaint to the Delhi Police alleging fraud, forgery, undue influence, and misappropriation of funds by Chaitanya Anand, based on which a complaint was registered on July 23.
“The students are now under the protective care and support of (the institute) and all… are now safe,” the statement further stated.
Following the FIR against Chaitanya Anand on July 23, he was removed from his position and made to leave the premises.
This is not the first case against Chaitanya Anand. Police sources say that in 2016 an FIR was registered against him for molesting a woman from the same institute. “In that case, the accused was bound down but not arrested after the initial investigation and the case is pending trial,” said Southwest DCP Amit Goyal.
History of Complaints
According to the DCP, 32 women students were recorded, out of which seven alleged abusive language over WhatsApp and SMS messages, as well as unwanted physical contact by the accused. “The victims further alleged that women who were serving as faculty and administrators abetted and pressured them to comply with Chaitanya’s demands, with three women staff members named in the record, and their statements have been taken,” said DCP Goyal, adding that the statements of the victims have been recorded before the Patiala House Court.
Meanwhile, a separate case has been registered against Chaitanya Anand for allegedly using a Volvo car with a fake blue United Nations number plate. The police also recovered nine other fake diplomatic number plates from his residence.