The Delhi Police has issued a lookout circular (LOC) against Chaitanyananda Saraswati, who has been booked for allegedly molesting 17 women studying under the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) quota at an institution in Southwest Delhi.
According to police sources, Chaitanyananda was in London when the FIR was registered. He later returned to India but has since gone missing.
“His last known location was in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Teams have conducted raids at various locations across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand. An LOC has been issued against him,” an official source said.
“He was one of the founding members of the institute and was serving as its chairman,” an officer added.
Officials said Chaitanyananda stayed on the institute’s premises, where the women also study and live in the hostel. “He would interact with the victims directly, and some chats appear to have been deleted from the victims’ mobile phones,” the official said.
During the investigation, police discovered that Chaitanyananda was allegedly using a red Volvo car with a fake ‘diplomatic’ number plate — ‘39 UN 1’, mimicking a United Nations vehicle.
Authorities suspect that he used the fake UN plates to assert dominance and influence over people, discouraging them from questioning his illegal activities. “It is suspected that he used the fake UN plates to create an impression of authority and protection. However, the exact reason for frequently changing number plates will only be confirmed after his arrest,” the officer said.
The case came to light in August when one of the administrators at the institution approached the police. “During enquiry, statements of 32 women students were recorded, out of which 17 alleged abusive language, obscene WhatsApp/SMS messages and unwanted physical contact by the accused. The victims further alleged that women who were serving as faculty and administrators abetted and pressured them to comply with Chaitanyananda’s demands,” said DCP (Southwest) Amit Goel.
Following this, the police registered a case under Sections 75(2) (sexual harassment), 79 (intention to insult modesty of women), and 351(2) of the BNS and launched a search operation.
“Some wardens are also under the radar for allegedly assisting Chaitanyananda. The police have recorded statements of the staff members along with those of the victims,” the official added.
Alongside the district police, the Crime Branch and Special Cell are actively working to locate and apprehend him.
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