Delhi’s Patiala House Court rejects the anticipatory bail plea filed by Swami Chaitanyanand Saraswati in connection with allegations of illegally acquiring land belonging to the Shri Sharda Institute of Indian Management in Vasant Kunj.
The court rules that the charges against the swami are serious, and an investigation is ongoing, making bail inappropriate at this stage. Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur reserves the order after hearing arguments from both sides.
During the hearing, the Delhi Police counsel opposes the bail application. Police inform the court that Chaitanyanand holds two passports and two PAN cards, which he allegedly used to open fraudulent bank accounts.
According to the police, after the FIR was registered, ₹50–55 lakh were withdrawn from these accounts. Authorities also claim that he falsely represented himself as a member of the Prime Minister’s National Advisory Committee.
Swami’s Defence
Chaitanyanand’s lawyer contends that individuals filed the FIRs as part of a conspiracy against him. “On September 19, when he left the ashram and went outside Delhi, they lodged three FIRs against him in a planned manner. They filed these FIRs without investigation to prevent his return,” the counsel argues.
The swami faces a total of five cases, including allegations of sexual harassment of girls, defrauding people, and using vehicles with fake number plates. The Vasant Kunj North Police Station registers cases under Indian Penal Code sections 75(2) (sexual harassment), 79 (words or gestures intended to insult a woman’s modesty), and 351(2) (criminal intimidation).
Chaitanyanand identifies himself as a saint and has resided in the ashram for around 12 years. This is not the first instance of sexual harassment allegations against him, highlighting a pattern of serious complaints over time.
The Patiala House Court prioritises protecting the integrity of the ongoing investigation and ensuring justice, reinforcing that it will not grant anticipatory bail given the gravity of the charges.
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