A Delhi court granted five-day police custody of Chaitanyananda Saraswati on Sunday. The decision came after the Delhi Police requested custody to dig deeper into the allegations.

Saraswati, 62, was finally arrested after evading authorities since August. Earlier, he served as the chairman of the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management Research in Vasant Kunj, Delhi.

Prosecution Presents Shocking Details

During the hearing, the prosecution revealed disturbing evidence. They said Saraswati molested several women and demanded sexual favors in exchange for academic benefits.

Moreover, the victims’ statements confirmed the abuse. “He had given them threats. CCTV cameras were installed to monitor their movement — some even in bathrooms. Around 16 girls have complained. Several other allegations need to be verified,” the prosecution stated.

Defense Challenges Police Plea

However, Saraswati’s lawyer opposed the request for police custody. He argued that the move aimed only to harass his client. “I am not allowed to wear my robes. You want police custody only to harass me. If you feel there is any threat to the women, that can be addressed by judicial custody,” the lawyer argued.

FIR Highlights Widespread Abuse

Meanwhile, police filed a five-page FIR. The report included the statement of a 21-year-old student and mentioned 32 other women who accused Saraswati of harassment and assault.

Furthermore, the FIR alleged that Saraswati installed CCTV cameras in bathrooms to monitor and intimidate female students.

IAF Officer’s Email Sparks Action

Later, the case gained national attention after an Indian Air Force group captain sent an email. In it, he revealed that students approached him about receiving threats and offensive messages from Saraswati.

As a result, the officer alerted the Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham, which oversees the college. This immediately escalated the investigation and prompted police to act swiftly.

Ongoing Investigation

Now, authorities are verifying evidence and identifying more victims. Additionally, they urged anyone with information to come forward and support the probe.