Fugitive godman Saraswati arrested in Agra

Self-styled godman Chaitanyananda Saraswati, accused of sexually harassing at least 17 women students at a private management institute in Delhi, was arrested in Agra in the early hours of Sunday after evading authorities for nearly two months.

The 62-year-old accused, who had been absconding since an FIR was lodged against him on August 4, was traced to a budget hotel in Agra’s Taj Ganj area. A Delhi Police team, acting on specific inputs, nabbed him around 3.30 a.m., officials confirmed. He had checked into the hotel under the name Partha Sarathi on September 27 and remained confined to his room until his arrest.

A long trail of evasion

According to police, Saraswati had been abroad since July and returned to India on August 6. Soon after the complaint, which specifically highlighted the harassment of students under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota, he fled Delhi. To avoid detection, he constantly shifted between Vrindavan, Mathura, and Agra, staying in low-cost hotels and using taxis to travel. Investigators also revealed that Saraswati and his aides falsely claimed links to the Prime Minister’s Office to solicit support while on the run.

Deception and Fraud

During the arrest, police recovered three mobile phones, an iPad, and fake visiting cards portraying him as a permanent ambassador with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and a BRICS envoy. Two fraudulent passports, with conflicting details of parentage and birthplace one citing Darjeeling, the other Tamil Nadu were also seized. His PAN card too carried inconsistent information. Authorities had earlier frozen ₹8 crore spread across multiple bank accounts and fixed deposits linked to the accused. Investigations further showed he withdrew over ₹50 lakh after the FIR was filed, allegedly using multiple accounts under different identities.

Allegations of harassment

As former chairman of the southwest Delhi institute, Saraswati allegedly coerced female students to visit his private quarters at night and sent them lewd messages. He also monitored their hostel movements through CCTV access on his phone. His female aides reportedly intimidated victims into deleting evidence of harassment.

Victims demand justice

Saraswati has been remanded to five days of police custody, during which he will likely be confronted with his aides and taken back to the institute for further investigation. While the arrest has brought relief, victims and their families stressed that justice must not end here. “The journey is only half done. Authorities must ensure he is punished with life imprisonment so that no one dares prey on girls again,” said a close friend of one of the survivors.

The case has once again cast a spotlight on abuse of power in private institutions and the exploitation of vulnerable students. With investigators uncovering layers of deceit, fraud, and intimidation, the focus now shifts to ensuring that the victims’ voices translate into accountability and justice.