New Delhi: Despite complaints of molestation from 17 students, and despite booking him a month ago, the Delhi Police have been unable to find self-styled godman and manager of a south Delhi institute Chaitanyananda Saraswati, real name Parthsarthy.
Manager of the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management for 12 years, he has been absconding since the institute’s administration approached the police on 4 August with complaints of sexual harassment from female students, especially those studying under the economically weaker section quota.
“During the enquiry, statements of 32 female students were recorded, out of which 17 alleged abusive language, obscene WhatsApp/SMS messages and unwanted physical contact by the accused. Following the revelations made by the victims, the Delhi Police lodged a case under 75(2) (punishment for sexual harassment), 79 (hurting a woman’s modesty), and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita,” South West Deputy Commissioner of Police, Amit Goel said in a statement.
Following the revelations made by the victims, the Delhi Police lodged a case under 75(2) (punishment for sexual harassment), 79 (hurting a woman’s modesty), and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.
The police have also issued a lookout circular against him.
Parthasarathy is also affiliated to the Sri Sri University in Odisha, which identifies him as a Professor at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. Similarly, Aravind Foundation claims him to be an alumnus, and credits him with authoring 28 books and 143 research papers.
Police sources said that some of the victims have alleged that the female faculty and administrative staff of the Sharada Institute facilitated Parthasarathy’s activities. The police have recorded statements of three staff members so far.
Investigators have seized hard disks and analysed CCTV footage from the institute. They also found a Volvo car with a fake United Nations registration number in the basement of the institute, which was used by Parthasarathy.
The Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, which runs the Vasant Kunj institute, released a statement last month, days after complaining to the police about Parthasarthy.
“The public is hereby informed that Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, formerly known as Swami (Dr) Parthasarathy has engaged in activities that are illegal, inappropriate, and detrimental to the interests of Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri (Peetham). As a result, the Peetham has severed all ties with him,” it said in a statement on 9 August.
In the same statement, the Peetham stated that the Vasant Kunj institute operates with the approval of the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and is governed by a governing council.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)