The Delhi Police on Wednesday once again took self-styled ‘godman’ Chaitanyananda Saraswati to the Vasant Kunj campus of a private institute, where he is accused of sexually harassing at least 17 students. This time, the search yielded disturbing evidence: a sex toy, CDs carrying pornographic content, and forged photographs showing him with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former US president Barack Obama.
A senior officer privy to the investigation told PTI that Saraswati’s room was searched for nearly 90 minutes. Police also found “lewd chats” on his phone with multiple unidentified women, including one conversation days before his arrest where he allegedly asked a woman, “One Dubai Sheikh wants a sex partner, do you have any nice friend?”
The man behind the controversy
Saraswati, 62, is the former head of the Shri Sharada Institute of Indian Management. Once presented as a scholar and mentor, he is now under arrest after being on the run for nearly two months. Delhi Police nabbed him in Agra on Sunday.
During the investigation, police confronted him with three of his female aides, sisters who allegedly threatened victims and forced them to delete incriminating messages from their phones.
How the ‘godman’ operated
According to investigators, Saraswati carefully crafted an aura of influence and power.
His office was styled like a luxury suite to impress women.
He showered select students and acquaintances with expensive gifts, including jewellery.
He coaxed them into sharing yoga photos and videos.
He dropped names of powerful figures, even threatening police by falsely claiming ties with the Chief Justice of India and the Prime Minister’s Office.
Police also discovered that he secretly clicked photos of students and staff, saved pictures of female flight stewards, and maintained screenshots of women’s display pictures on his phone.
Pattern of luring victims
Officers told PTI that Saraswati often lured women with promises of jobs, either as flight attendants or positions within his institute, to start conversations. In many of the recovered chats, he repeatedly referred to women as “baby doll.”
The evidence paints a picture of manipulation that went beyond classroom misconduct. Police said the seized CDs, pornographic material, and forged photographs were part of a carefully built facade designed to shield his activities.
Wider probe and next steps
Delhi Police teams have expanded the investigation to Bageshwar, Almora and other towns where Saraswati reportedly stayed while evading arrest. Officers are trying to corroborate victim statements with fresh evidence.
For now, Saraswati remains in custody. Investigators say his case highlights how influence, fear and false associations with power were used to silence victims.
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