Delhi Godman Sexual Assault Case: Recordings Reveal How Women Were Coerced Into Hotel Meetings

Chaitanyananda Saraswati has been arrested on charges of sexually harassing at least 17 women

New Delhi:

NDTV has obtained call recordings that reveal how Chaitanyananda Saraswati's female accomplices coerced women students to meet the self-styled godman in hotel rooms. The investigation into sexual assault allegations against him continues to uncover disturbing details.

Several recordings capture conversations where women attempting to avoid these encounters by mentioning they were menstruating were dismissed and told not to make "excuses" by his aides.

The 62-year-old Chaitanyananda, former head of Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management-Research in Delhi's Vasant Kunj, was arrested last month following allegations of sexual assault against students. Three female associates, including Sweta Sharma, the institute's former associate dean, have also been arrested. Sharma allegedly pressured female students to visit Chaitanyananda in hotel rooms.

Victims report being threatened that their academic documents and degrees would be withheld if they refused the godman's advances.

Investigation reveals Chaitanyananda frequently stayed in five-star accommodations where his aides would identify potential targets. Women were informed that the Baba had booked rooms for them and they were expected to spend the night with him. Those who refused were told their "turn has come." These incidents often occurred during mandatory trips with Chaitanyananda, with women being threatened that their hotel reservations would be canceled if they declined, forcing them to make their own arrangements at personal expense. Most victims came from underprivileged backgrounds, making these financial threats particularly effective.

In one recording obtained by NDTV, allegedly featuring Sweta Sharma's voice, she instructs a woman: "Tomorrow, when both of you leave the office, I will send you the hotel's name. You have to go there. Swamiji has come. You have to meet him for dinner. He has booked a room for you. You will stay the night and go to the office from there."

The woman simply responds, "Ok, Ma'am."

Sharma continues: "So, when you leave for the office tomorrow, take your clothes."

Another recording captures Sharma dismissing a woman's mention of menstruation as an excuse to avoid meeting Chaitanyananda:

Sweta: "This is an excuse, useless!"

Woman: "No, ma'am, this is not an excuse. I am actually on my periods."

Sweta: "This is an excuse. You want to avoid the meeting because you fear Swamiji will scold you and deduct your marks. You can make your own staying arrangements."

Woman: "Ma'am, I am actually on periods. Why would we lie? What can I do? I will send a photograph of my pad. What else can I do?"

These recordings document the traumatic experiences endured by students and highlight the role of female staff members in facilitating the godman's predatory behavior.

The self-styled spiritual leader has undergone multiple transformations, changing his name from Partha Sarathi Rudra to Br Parthasarathy to Swami Parthsarathy and finally to Chaitanyananda Saraswati. Earlier photographs show him in white attire, while more recent images feature him in saffron robes. Investigators discovered he was previously expelled from Ramakrishna Mission for alleged financial improprieties.

Chaitanyananda claims to hold an MBA and PhD from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, along with seven honorary DLitt degrees from universities in India and abroad. Delhi Police sources suspect many of these credentials are fabricated and are conducting thorough investigations to verify them. He also portrays himself as an "internationally acclaimed writer" with 28 published titles and 143 research papers.