‘Godman’ booked for sexually harassing 19 women: Rs 8 crore in trust accounts frozen

According to police, over 18 accounts and 28 fixed deposists in the name of a trust set up by Chaitanyananda – which had around Rs 8 crore in them – have been frozen.

Chaitanyananda was booked in a separate case last month for allegedly sexually harassing 19 women at Sri Sharda Institute of Indian Management (SRIISM) in Vasant Kunj. He was the chancellor of the institute, which is run by the Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasam-sthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham.

Arguing before Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Hardeep Kaur of Patiala House Court, the prosecution said, “He has two passports. This person has been running away for the last month. Since 2010, Rs 20 crore has come to his trust… All of that is misappropriation. Rs 60 lakh has been withdrawn in a month.”

“He has photoshopped himself with other leaders. He has many fake addresses, he claimed to be a part of a national advisory council,” the investigating officer submitted before the court.

The complainant is represented by advocates Rushab Aggarwal, Kumar Vaibhaw and Riddhima Aggarwal.

On the other hand, senior advocate Ajay Burman, who appeared for the self-styled godman, said: “The FIR was registered against me when I was not in Delhi. A complaint was filed and immediately an FIR was registered without any inquiry… Till date, no property has been sold and neither has a sale deed been executed… I had the power but have never misused it… I have been targeted since day one.”

“The police are giving so many stories to the media, I don’t know where they are getting it. Since July, he (Chaitanyananda) is not in Delhi and behind his back, these FIRs have been registered,” Burman added.

ASJ Kaur said, “Investigation of the present case is at a nascent stage and IO requires custodial interrogation of applicant/accused to establish the entire chain of fraud, cheating, conspiracy and misappropriation of funds. As per the version of IO, the applicant/accused is
not available at his given address and his mobile phone is switched off.”

“Considering the seriousness of allegations and gravity of offence, this Court is not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to applicant/ accused. Therefore, present bail application stands dismissed,” the order stated.

Chaitanyananda had earlier moved another anticipatory bail plea in the molestation case but later withdrew it as names of the alleged victims had inadvertently been mentioned in the plea.

The accused had allegedly sent lewd and inappropriate messages to women students and forced them to accompany him on foreign trips and to visit him in his room late at night. At least 19 women, enrolled under the Economically Weaker Section quota at the institute, had alleged that Chaityananda made unwanted physical contact with them.

Before the latest allegations of the women were made public, the FIR for alleged embezzlement and misappropriation of funds was lodged against him on July 23.

A separate case has also been lodged against him for allegedly using a Volvo car with a fake blue United Nations number plate.

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