Chaitanyananda Saraswati, a self-styled godman, was arrested in Agra on September 28, 2025, by Delhi Police. He is accused of sexually harassing 17 female students at a private management institute in Delhi. The 62-year-old was located in Agra after weeks of being on the run, following a tip-off to the police.

Saraswati, who previously served as the chairman of the institute, allegedly exploited students from economically weaker sections. Reports indicate that he confiscated their mobile phones and academic certificates, creating an environment of fear that prevented them from reporting his actions. A friend of one victim stated, "He marked students first and asked them to deposit their phones so they could ‘focus on studies’.”

The police have frozen ₹8 crore linked to Saraswati, which was found in various bank accounts and fixed deposits. A Delhi court recently dismissed his anticipatory bail plea, emphasizing the need for custodial interrogation to uncover the full extent of the alleged fraud.

Investigators revealed that Saraswati created a fraudulent trust to misappropriate funds from the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management Research and a religious organization based in Sringeri. He reportedly opened multiple bank accounts under different names and withdrew over ₹50 lakh after an FIR was filed against him in August.

Victims have come forward, detailing how Saraswati and his associates threatened them with expulsion or failure if they resisted his advances. The first complaint was lodged in March by a student under the EWS quota, who claimed she was coerced into paying an additional ₹60,000 or working at the institute without pay. The investigation is ongoing, with more victims expected to come forward.