Godman Charged with Sexual Harassment of 17 Female Students Found to Have Hidden Cameras in Women's Hostel

Self-styled godman Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati.

Self-styled godman Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati alias Swami Parthasarathy, who has been accused of sexually harassing 17 female students at a private management institute, was discovered to have secretly installed cameras in the women's hostel.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) obtained by NDTV, Parthasarathy would compel female students to visit his room during late hours and accompany him on international trips.

The 62-year-old director also allegedly forced a student to change her name against her wishes, as stated in the FIR.

Parthasarathy serves as the director of Sri Sharda Institute of Indian Management located in Vasant Kunj. The institute operates under Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham in Sringeri, Karnataka, which has announced it has terminated all connections with the accused.

Police report that Parthasarathy has fled and efforts to apprehend him are ongoing.

Among 32 students who provided statements to police, at least 17 have accused Parthasarathy of employing abusive language, sending inappropriate text messages, and initiating unwanted physical contact.

The affected students belong to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and are pursuing post-graduate management diploma courses on scholarships at the institute.

In their testimonies, students alleged both sexual and mental harassment by Parthasarathy, including receiving obscene messages through WhatsApp and SMS.

They claimed their complaints were ignored and that female faculty members, including Associate Dean Shweta, pressured them to comply with the director's demands.

Students who resisted Parthasarathy's demands reportedly faced threats of suspension, expulsion, and withholding of degrees and documents. The students stated that parental intervention in these matters was prohibited.

During their investigation, police discovered a Volvo car in the institute's basement used by Parthasarathy. Verification revealed the vehicle displayed a forged diplomatic license plate (39 UN 1), which was subsequently seized.

Authorities have reviewed CCTV footage and conducted searches at both the crime scene and the accused's residence. Sources indicate that investigations suggest Parthasarathy was last located near Agra. Multiple teams have been formed to apprehend him.

In an official statement, the Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetha in Sringeri declared that the accused's conduct and activities were determined to be illegal, inappropriate, and contrary to the Peetha's interests, resulting in the complete severance of all associations with him.