An FIR was also registered in 2016 against Chaitanyanand Saraswati, accused of sexual harassment of female students at Shri Sharda Institute in Delhi. The victim student had escaped by fleeing. The accused's bail hearing will take place today at Patiala House Court.
New Delhi: Swami Chaitanyanand Saraswati is embroiled in controversy due to alleged sexual harassment of students at Shri Sharda Institute of India Management and Research in Delhi. In the FIR registered in 2016, several female students had also made serious allegations against him. At that time, a female student had to flee, leaving behind her documents and bag out of fear, but Chaitanyanand and his associates pursued the student all the way to her home.
Case of Harassment Against a Student in 2016
According to the FIR, the victim student was 20-21 years old at the time. She alleged that Chaitanyanand would call her at night, make vulgar remarks, and call her 'baby' or 'sweet girl'. If she didn't comply, she would be punished, and her phone would also be confiscated. The student stated that she was kept isolated in the hostel and reprimanded if she spoke to other female students.
The girl also said that Chaitanyanand had pressured her for a two-day trip to Mathura, which she was unwilling to take. Out of fear, the student had to flee, leaving her bag and documents behind. However, Chaitanyanand and his people pursued her all the way to her home, but her father intervened in time and safely rescued his daughter.
Torture Chamber and Harassment in Hostel
The investigation also revealed that Chaitanyanand Saraswati, in collusion with the institute's dean and two female staff members, sexually harassed female students studying on EWS scholarships. He installed hidden cameras in the hostel in the name of security and turned his ground floor office into a hub for sexual harassment.
Economically vulnerable female students were called to Swami's private chamber late at night and pressured under the guise of foreign trips. Associate Dean Shweta and other staff members pressured the female students to comply with Swami's sexual demands and ignored complaints. Thus, the environment of the hostel and the institute became terrifying and unsafe for female students.
Family's Vigilance Saved the Student
The role of the female students' guardians and families was also crucial at that time. When the girl reached her father, he immediately took cognizance of the situation and safely rescued his daughter from Chaitanyanand and his associates. The family's vigilance and swift action helped avert a major incident.
This incident highlighted the seriousness of student safety in the institute. Experts say that in such cases, active parental involvement and institutional oversight are extremely necessary to prevent harassment against female students.
Bail Hearing Today
The Patiala House Court in Delhi is hearing Chaitanyanand Saraswati's anticipatory bail plea. The court proceedings will focus on the FIR registered in 2016 and other evidence. This will clarify how female students were subjected to prolonged harassment and how the institute's staff either colluded or showed negligence.
Such cases not only affect the mental health of the victims but also impact the credibility of the institutions. Through judicial process and strict oversight, the safety of female students can be ensured and help prevent such crimes in the future.
