The real-life ‘Maharaj’: Swami Chaitanyananda’s alleged abuse of power inside a Delhi institute

Self-styled godman Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, who was the former chairman of the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management Research in Delhi's Vasant Kunj, is under a police lookout notice after 17 students accused him of sexual harassment and financial fraud.

Authorities suspect that he withdrew over ₹50 lakh from various bank accounts after the FIR was filed against him, possibly using multiple identities to evade detection.

A Delhi court has rejected his anticipatory bail plea in a fraud case involving 18 bank accounts and 28 fixed deposits, indicating the seriousness of the charges.

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women has urged the Delhi Police to arrest him immediately and ensure the safety and counseling of the victims.

Allegations of sexual harassment

The allegations against Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati surfaced following a complaint filed on Aug 5. The six-page FIR details accounts from several women who reported repeated harassment. Victims allege that he seized their phones and original certificates to instill fear, threatened to deduct marks if complaints were made and sent inappropriate messages such as "baby, I love you."

Additionally, during a Holi celebration, female students were reportedly lined up and told that he would be the first to apply color to their cheeks, requiring them to say "Hariom" and bow before him. He then applied color to their cheeks and along the parting of their hair, a gesture the complainants described as humiliating and invasive.

The incident seems to draw an eerie resemblance to the Netflix series Maharaj, which portrayed a charismatic spiritual leader accused of exploiting followers in a similar manner.

Financial impropriety and flight

Police investigations have also uncovered suspected financial misconduct involving roughly ₹50–55 lakh withdrawn from multiple bank accounts. Officials say Chaitanyananda maintained accounts under different names and possessed two passports. His anticipatory bail plea in a related fraud case was rejected by a Delhi court.

The Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management Research has publicly announced that it has terminated all associations with the accused monk and issued an official statement to that effect.

Despite a nationwide search across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the seer remains untraceable. Authorities believe he withdrew large sums after the FIR was filed and may be using multiple identities to evade arrest.