New Delhi: Multiple female students of the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj have accused the institute’s director, Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati—also known as Parth Sarthy—of sexual harassment, blackmail, and intimidation.
The Delhi Police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita after 17 out of 32 recorded statements detailed how the accused sent obscene WhatsApp and SMS messages, used abusive language, and made unwanted physical contact. The students, many from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), alleged that Saraswati exploited their vulnerability, threatening poor marks if they resisted and luring them with promises of wealth or foreign trips.
Investigators uncovered WhatsApp messages on the phones of 50 women, revealing 16 years of alleged abuse. Faculty and administrators are also accused of abetting Saraswati and pressuring victims to comply. Sixteen women have deposed before a magistrate.
Police raids at the institute and addresses linked to Saraswati revealed CCTV evidence and a Volvo car with a forged diplomatic number plate reportedly used by him. Saraswati, last seen in Agra after being in London when the scandal broke, remains absconding.
This is not the first case against him—previous complaints of molestation and fraud date back to 2009 and 2016. Despite arrests and inquiries in the past, he allegedly continued to target female students, especially those on EWS scholarships.
The case has sparked outrage, with activists demanding stronger oversight of private institutions and accountability for enablers within the system.
