Woman Reveals How She Escaped Delhi Godman's Manipulative Recruitment Tactics at Management Institute

A young woman recently shared her experience of narrowly escaping admission to self-styled godman Chaitanyananda Saraswati's institute, who is now in custody facing allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation of students. In her interview with NDTV, she described how she almost joined his institution last year but ultimately decided against it—a choice she now considers fortunate.

Her account joins numerous testimonies from women who have accused the 62-year-old spiritual leader of sexual misconduct at his Delhi-based management institute.

The student recounted visiting Chaitanyananda's institute in October last year with her academic credentials, hoping to secure admission. She stated that Chaitanyananda personally promised her an "internship opportunity" with financial compensation and portrayed the institute as offering digital learning platforms and international career opportunities.

"He assured me I could join for an internship with payment," she recalled. "He claimed everything was digitalized with excellent opportunities. Baba ji also mentioned that he trains IPS officers, presenting himself as someone with considerable authority and influence."

While she couldn't confirm these assertions, Chaitanyananda presented them as factual information.

The student explained that what immediately alarmed her was the institute's high-pressure enrollment tactics. "They don't allow time for consideration," she explained. "They demand same-day confirmation of admission. When I requested a day or two to decide, they refused. My parents questioned why they wouldn't allow reflection time, which raised suspicions."

Her family ultimately advised against enrollment—a decision she believes protected her. "I feel fortunate to have avoided Baba's manipulation," she said.

She described another concerning interaction where Chaitanyananda allegedly told her and others present that a female student had once "tried to seduce him," and claimed that after rejecting her, police were harassing him because of that student's complaint.

"I found this extremely inappropriate," she stated. "I had come to discuss education, not such matters. This made me very uncomfortable, and my parents were equally concerned."

"It seemed like preemptive manipulation—planting the idea that if harassment occurred later, you'd be afraid to report it because police would side against you," she added.

The student revealed she initially met Chaitanyananda through his personal assistant, who she alleges played a significant role in persuading potential students.

"He operates with an entire team, possibly within the ashram and beyond," she explained. "They create such convincing narratives about excellent opportunities, international internships, and MBA programs that prospective students become fully convinced."

She mentioned that Chaitanyananda maintained several ashrams and frequently traveled between different locations, including areas near her residence.

Her testimony emerges as investigators intensify their probe into Chaitanyananda, who stands accused of sexually harassing at least 17 women at the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management-Research in Delhi's Vasant Kunj area.

According to police reports, while evading authorities, he stayed in 15 different hotels over 50 days, primarily choosing budget accommodations without surveillance cameras. His associates allegedly selected these lodgings to help him avoid capture. He was finally apprehended at a hotel in Agra on Sunday.

Chaitanyananda has been placed in police custody for five days. Investigators report that he has been uncooperative during questioning, consistently denying all allegations while claiming to be "feeling anxious" and unable to recall passwords for his confiscated devices. Authorities have sent three mobile phones and an iPad for forensic examination.