Chaitanyanand Saraswati, a 62-year-old self-proclaimed spiritual leader accused of sexually harassing 17 female students at a centrally approved private institute in Delhi, was confronted by police on Tuesday with two of his female aides allegedly involved in intimidating victims. The aides, who held administrative roles at the institution, are suspected of threatening the women to delete lewd messages from Saraswati and suppress complaints, according to a senior Delhi Police officer.

This development marks a critical phase in the investigation, which has uncovered a pattern of exploitation leveraging Saraswati's position as the institute's chairperson, where he allegedly groomed students under the guise of mentorship and spiritual guidance. The case, registered under the Indian Penal Code sections for outraging modesty, criminal intimidation, and IT Act provisions for privacy violations, highlights systemic vulnerabilities in educational settings, prompting calls for stricter oversight of such private entities.

During forensic analysis of Saraswati's seized phones, investigators discovered explicit chats with numerous women, including promises of jobs, academic favours, and spiritual elevation to lure them into compromising situations. The devices also contained photographs of Saraswati posing with air hostesses and screenshots of women's display pictures from social media, suggesting a broader network of predatory behaviour beyond the students.

"He tried to lure them with false promises," the officer revealed, adding that Saraswati remains uncooperative, offering evasive responses and showing no remorse even when presented with digital evidence. His reluctance to engage substantively has prolonged interrogations, with police relying on confrontations with the aides—who are being grilled separately—to corroborate victim statements and timeline discrepancies.

The probe intensified after Saraswati's dramatic arrest on Sunday from a hotel in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, following a multi-state manhunt triggered by his flight from Delhi upon learning of the FIR. On Monday, he was escorted back to the institute's campus to reconstruct crime scenes, identifying spots where he summoned victims for assaults.

This hands-on recreation aided in verifying survivor accounts of coercion in isolated areas like offices and prayer rooms. The aides' involvement emerged from victim testimonies detailing threats of expulsion or reputational harm if they spoke out, underscoring a conspiracy to silence dissent. As the investigation expands, police are scanning Saraswati's financial trails for potential misuse of institute funds to facilitate his activities.

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Saraswati's downfall exposes the perils of unchecked authority in spiritual and educational spheres, where figures like him exploit trust for personal gain. The institute, affiliated with a central ministry for skill development, has suspended operations pending a government audit, while the National Commission for Women has demanded a detailed report. With over 20 additional complaints surfacing from other women, the case could lead to further charges.

Authorities emphasise victim support through counselling and legal aid, aiming to prevent recurrence. As Saraswati's web unravels, the focus shifts to justice for the survivors, reinforcing the need for robust safeguards in India's coaching and vocational hubs.

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