Delhi cops nab ‘fraud’ monk after 2-month, 5-state chase

In the past two months, over five police teams have been conducting raids across five states looking for the 62-year-old former chairman of Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management-Research, who has been accused of molesting over 17 students, besides fraud and forgery.

- Jignasa Sinha

The accused, Chaitanyananda Saraswati, had been evading police since August 5, when an FIR of mass molestation was lodged at Vasant Kunj police station, officers aware of the investigation said, adding that the police operation finally culminated after they received a tip that a person looking like the “Baba’ in saffron attire was staying ata hotel in Agra.

‘A senior police officer, not wishing to be named, said, “When the case was lodged, Saraswati was in London. After his return, he filed a plea for bail on September 6 but he later withdrew itas the court reprimanded him for mentioning names of the victims”.

Deputy commissioner of police (southwest) Amit Goel said that for the past two months, police teams were continuously conducting raids at hotels, ashrams and guest houses across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.