Accused include senior faculty, dean and executive director of Delhi institute
Delhi Police have arrested three senior associates of self-styled godman Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, also known as Parthasarathy, in connection with the sexual harassment case involving women students of the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management-Research.
The three accused — Shweta Sharma (Associate Dean), Bhawna Kapil (Executive Director), and Kajal (senior faculty) — allegedly acted on Parthasarathy’s instructions to pressurise students under the guise of discipline and punctuality. Police said they abetted the crime, threatened complainants, and attempted to destroy evidence.
Investigators confirmed that a police team had visited a guest house in Almora, Uttarakhand, where Parthasarathy allegedly stayed with women students. Locals corroborated the claims, sources said.
Digital evidence and financial probe
Police also recovered digital evidence, including inappropriate comments made by the 62-year-old godman on photos of women students in a yoga WhatsApp group. Despite mounting evidence, investigators said he has shown “no guilt or remorse.”
Chaitanyananda, arrested in Agra last week after evading authorities, faces allegations from more than 17 students, including obscene messages, unwanted physical contact, and intimidation.
The Sri Sringeri Math, which had earlier appointed him director of the institute, has since severed ties and filed complaints of fund misappropriation. A preliminary audit has pointed to financial irregularities worth over ₹20 crore. Police also said he had obtained a forged passport under a different identity.
Investigations into seized electronic devices and CCTV footage are ongoing.