By Admin 
Delhi’s Patiala House Court took cognizance of the charge sheet filed by the police in which self-styled godman Chaitanyanand Saraswati has been accused of sexually harassing 17 girl students of a private management institute. Judicial Magistrate Animesh Kumar had sought clarification from the police on a section, which was clarified by Additional Public Prosecutor Raghav Khurana present in the court. After this the court accepted the charge sheet.
Chaitanyanand, who appeared from Tihar Jail through video conferencing in Patiala House Court, claimed in the court that an ASI had scuffled with him in the jail. He said that he is a senior citizen and he was assaulted. On this complaint, the court said that the case will be heard on November 29.
Delhi Police filed 1077 page charge sheet
In this case registered on the complaint of 17 girl students of Shri Sharda Institute of Indian Management located in Vasant Kunj, Delhi, the police filed a charge sheet of 1077 pages. It includes statements of 43 witnesses.
The police have charged Chaitanyanand Saraswati, Bhavana Kapil, Shweta and Kajal with sexual harassment (BNS 75-2), outraging the modesty of a woman (BNS 79), threatening to give a false statement (BNS 232), threatening to cause grievous harm (BNS 351-3) and destroying evidence (BNS 238-B). There is a provision of maximum punishment of seven years in these sections. Another accused Harish Singh Kapkoti has been made an accused in two sections.
Police had registered FIR on 4th August
This case started in March 2025 when the first student lodged a complaint. Later many girl students came forward. Delhi Police had registered an FIR on 4 August. Chaitanyananda remained absconding for 55 days and was arrested from a hotel in Agra on 28 September.
Chaitanyananda, originally from Odisha, was living in the ashram for the last 12 years. A case has been registered against him in the year 2009 also.