Chaitanyananda, alias Partha Sarathy, was remanded to 14-day judicial custody in Tihar Jail, with court ordering provisional access to medicines and Sanatani food
New Delhi
A Delhi court on Saturday fixed October 8 to decide on a plea filed by arrested ‘Swami’ Chaitanyananda Saraswati, seeking medicines, Sanatani food, monk dress, books, and reading glasses during his judicial custody. Judicial Magistrate Pallavi Tyagi recorded the Delhi Police’s response and adjourned the hearing till that date.
Chaitanyananda, also known as Partha Sarathy, was sent to 14-day judicial custody on Friday and remanded to Tihar Jail. The court directed jail authorities to provisionally provide him medicines and Sanatani food until a final decision is made.
The self-styled monk is accused of molesting 17 women students at Sri Sharda Institute of Indian Management in Vasant Kunj, Delhi. The alleged victims were enrolled in post-graduate diploma courses under the Economically Weaker Sections scheme. Investigations revealed Chaitanyananda would summon female students to his room late at night and allegedly threaten to fail them or cut grades if they resisted.
Police said he operated a “torture room” on the institute’s ground floor for private meetings. Statements from three wardens indicated complicity in bringing students to him. Two women associates of the accused were recently detained and questioned.
Chaitanyananda fled on August 4 after a complaint from the Indian Air Force headquarters. He was arrested on September 28 at an Agra hotel and later taken to the institute for questioning before being remanded to judicial custody.
The court’s final order on October 8 will decide if the accused is granted special facilities while in custody.
