New Delhi: The Patiala House Court on Wednesday directed the Delhi Police to file a comprehensive reply to applications moved by Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati. The applications concern his request to wear a sanyasi robe, possess spiritual books, and related entitlements under the jail manual.

Court’s observations & directions

  • The Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Animesh Kumar observed that the reply filed so far by the Investigation Officer (IO) is deficient, lacking any reference to the jail manual’s provisions on permissible clothing and books.
  • The court remarked that “prima facie, it appears there is no prohibition on clothes and books,” questioning how their denial could be justified under law.
  • It also caution ed the police against including extraneous comments — for instance, the IO’s reply had stated the accused “doesn’t deserve the privilege of wearing religious clothes,” which the court found inappropriate.

Chaitanyananda’s requests

  • Among the reliefs sought by the accused are:
  1. Permission to wear sanyasi garb
  2. Access to spiritual books
  3. Provision of sanyasi food, spectacles, medicines
  • Another application seeks the supply of a copy of the seizure memo related to his case.

Procedural status & next steps

  • The bench has scheduled further hearings:

    • The sari-robe / spiritual books plea is slated for hearing on Monday

  • The seizure-memo plea is to be considered on Friday

  • Meanwhile, the interim orders on food and medicines remain in force until the next hearing.
  • The court emphasized that future replies must strictly conform to provisions in the jail manual without extraneous commentary.