8 months ago
3
NEW DELHI
Seventeen students of a backstage absorption institute successful southbound Delhi’s Vasant Kunj person accused its director, Swami Chaitanyananda, of sexually harassing them by sending coercive messages, issuing threats of world failure, and promising overseas trips.
An FIR has been registered against the self-styled godman, who is connected the tally for the past 2 months, the constabulary said connected Wednesday.
The substance came to airy aft a ailment was lodged connected August 4 astatine the Vasant Kunj (North) constabulary presumption by P.A. Murali, CEO of the Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham (Sringeri Math) successful Karnataka, which administers the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management nether the All India Council for Technical Education.
Wardens booked
Based connected the complaint, the constabulary registered an FIR against Mr. Chaitanyananda and 3 women wardens of the institute, who are accused of helping him lure the students.
The constabulary probe revealed that the manager chiefly targeted students from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category, believing that they would not retaliate. Of the 30 EWS students who gave their statements to the police, 17 alleged that they were sexually assaulted and harassed by the accused.
The constabulary recovered substance messages that read, “Come to my room... I volition instrumentality you overseas for a trip, you won’t person to pay” and “If you don’t perceive to me, I volition guarantee that you fail”.
“If they refused his advances, they would beryllium threatened either by him oregon the wardens. Sometimes, the wardens adjacent forced the students to delete the messages, leaving small proof,” an serviceman said.
After the FIR was lodged, the accused initially sought anticipatory bail but aboriginal withdrew the plea erstwhile the Delhi constabulary presented “strong evidence” successful court. “He was successful London erstwhile the FIR was lodged. He aboriginal travelled to Mauritius and was precocious traced to Agra,” the serviceman said, adding that teams person been sent to nab him.
The constabulary said the accused has 5 transgression cases registered against him astatine the Vasant Kunj (North) constabulary station, including 2 connected charges of intersexual harassment successful 2009 and 2016.
A constabulary serviceman said galore “fake” diplomatic fig plates were recovered successful the footwear of a luxury car registered successful Mr. Chaitanyananda’s name. “The car has been impounded and his properties and slope accounts are being scrutinised. CCTV footage from the institute was tampered with and it has been sent for forensic analysis,” the serviceman said.
