New Delhi: Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, also known as Parthasarthi or Chinmayanad Saraswati, is a controversial figure at the centre of a serious criminal investigation in South West Delhi’s Vasant Kunj. He manages a private engineering institute where multiple female students pursuing Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) under the EWS scholarship have accused him of sexual harassment.

According to police sources, the accused is currently evading arrest by frequently changing his location. The investigation began after the first complaint was filed on August 4, 2025 by P A Murli, administrator of Sri Sringeri Math and its properties, following disturbing allegations at the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management.

Statements from 32 female students revealed that 17 of them experienced inappropriate behaviour, including abusive language, unsolicited obscene messages on WhatsApp and SMS and unwanted physical contact. Some students further alleged that faculty and administrative staff pressured them to yield to the accused’s demands.

The police have registered a case under sections 75(2), 79 and 351(2) BNS at Vasant Kunj North Police Station. Extensive investigations included reviewing CCTV footage and conducting raids at the institute and other locations linked to Saraswati. Several hard disks and Network Video Recorders (NVRs) seized from the premises are undergoing forensic examination.

In addition, investigators found a luxury Volvo car belonging to the accused, parked in the institute’s basement, sporting a fake United Nations number plate (39 UN 1). A separate FIR has been filed regarding this forgery.

The Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri, has publicly distanced itself from Saraswati, condemning his actions as “illegal, inappropriate and harmful” to the Peetham’s reputation. The Peetham confirmed that the institute operates under a council headed by Krishna Venkatesh to ensure the safety and welfare of students.

Efforts to locate Chinmayanad Saraswati are ongoing. Police have analysed footage from over 200 CCTV cameras across the Ring Road area and adjoining localities. They identified a suspected vehicle with damaged front glass, traced back to a deceased vehicle owner, with the car reportedly used by his family.

Further investigation revealed that Gaurav Bhardwaj, a resident of Greater Kailash Enclave-I, drove the vehicle to Dwarka on the night of the incident and later replaced the broken glass at a local mechanic’s shop. Bhardwaj was arrested on September 22 and confessed during interrogation, leading to the recovery of the vehicle.

Authorities continue their pursuit of the accused, urging anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward.