Self-styled godman forced students to visit his quarter late at night: FIR

HARASSED THEM WITH LATE-NIGHT TEXTS'

- OUR CORRESPONDENT

Female students of a management institute here were allegedly forced to visit its director, self-styled godman Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati’s quarter late at night, subjected to intimidation and even received inappropriate text messages from him at odd hours, an FIR filed against him read.

The FIR was registered after the administration of Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management (SRISIIM) lodged a complaint with a police alleging that during a virtual interaction with more than 30 female students, several of them revealed instances of sexual harassment, manipulation, and threats by Chaitanyananda, who was earlier known as Swami (Dr) Parthasarathy.

According to the FIR, officials said the students were threatened with suspension and withholding of degrees if they resisted his advances. Many of the students belonged to economically weaker sections, making them more vulnerable to pressure.

“The students who are from economically weaker sections were forced to visit Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati in his quarter late at night by three women staffers,” the FIR read.