The Delhi Police told a court on Friday that they have added a criminal section that deals with threatening someone to give false evidence in the case against self-styled godman Chaitanyananda Saraswati, accused of allegedly molesting 17 women students at a South Delhi-based private institution. Chaitanyananda (62), who was produced before Judicial Magistrate Animesh Kumar at Patiala House Court after the completion of his five-day police custody, was remanded to 14 days in judicial custody. The court was informed that Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 232 (threaten someone to give false evidence) had been added against the accused, as one of the women complainants had been threatened after the case was lodged against Chaitanyananda. Earlier, a case had been registered against under BNS sections 75(2) (sexual harassment), 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) at the Vasant Kunj North police station against against Chaitanyananda. Meanwhile, Chaitanyananda’s counsel moved an application seeking the supply of the seizure memo and the case diaries, which was allowed by the court. “He should be allowed to wear his robes. We have attached the Deeksha certificate. This is a conspiracy. Police are disclosing to the media certain aspects related to the case," the advocate argued. The court sought a response from the police regarding other applications, including the wearing of monk robes, providing medicines, and “sanyasi” food. Chaitanyananda was apprehended from Agra and brought to Delhi on Sunday. He had served as Chancellor of Vasant Kunj-based Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management-Research. He was expelled in August — before the allegations of women students became public — for misappropriation of funds. He was arrested after being on the run.
