Sexual Assault Case: Court Adjourns Bail Plea of Godman Chaitanyananda; Forensic Tests Underway

In a chilling update to the ongoing sexual assault case against self-proclaimed spiritual leader Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, Delhi Police informed a city court on Monday that nine out of 16 alleged victims have been formally examined. The 62-year-old former chairman of a prominent management institute in southwest Delhi remains in judicial custody, facing grave charges of molesting multiple female students under the guise of authority and spiritual guidance.

The investigating officer (IO) appeared before Additional Sessions Judge Deepti Devesh during the hearing of the accused’s bail application, revealing that forensic analysis of mobile phones belonging to all 16 victims and the godman himself has been initiated at a certified laboratory. These devices are expected to yield critical evidence, including alleged inappropriate late-night text messages and digital records of the victims’ movements, which the FIR claims Chaitanyananda obsessively monitored.

The court has deferred the bail plea to November 7, directing the prosecution to submit a comprehensive status report by then. The IO assured that the remaining seven victims, currently unavailable due to the ongoing festival break at the institute, will return by November 4 and be recorded promptly. “The institution operated under the absolute control of the accused, where he exercised unchecked decision-making power,” the officer stated, underscoring the systemic abuse of authority.

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Previously, on October 13, Judge Devesh had emphasized the escalating severity of the offenses, noting that the involvement of multiple victims significantly aggravated the case. The FIR details a pattern of coercion: female students were allegedly summoned to the godman’s private quarters after dark, subjected to unwanted advances, and intimidated through constant surveillance via mobile tracking.

Chaitanyananda, who projected an image of ascetic wisdom, was dramatically arrested from Agra on September 28 after evading authorities. Once a respected figure in academic and spiritual circles, his fall has exposed deep vulnerabilities within institutional frameworks that allow unchecked power dynamics. Victim statements so far describe a climate of fear, where refusal to comply risked academic repercussions or social ostracism.

As forensic reports and additional testimonies are awaited, the case has sparked widespread outrage and calls for stricter oversight of self-styled spiritual leaders operating within educational environments. The Delhi Police have intensified their investigation, deploying specialized teams to ensure no evidence is overlooked. The court’s next hearing will be pivotal in determining whether the accused remains behind bars as the probe unearths the full extent of the alleged exploitation.

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