Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati Wiki, Biography, Controversy
Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati is an Indian saint, author, and professor. He was born as Partha Sarathy in Odisha, India. He was born in 1963.
What are his educational qualifications?
He did a Master of Business Administration and a Doctorate in Philosophy. He has attended the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Chicago, Illinois. He has seven postdoctoral degrees. He has been honored with honorary Doctor of Literature and Doctor of Letters degrees from various universities in India and other countries.
Is he married?
According to him, he is unmarried.
How Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati become a saint?
At a very young age, he joined Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham in Karnataka. He then became a monk of the Santana Vedic tradition. The tradition is a part of the Arsh Vidya Order and Shankara Lineage.
What is his profession?
After being a monk for a few years, he was appointed as the chancellor and chairman of the Sharada Peetham’s International Research Foundation, Delhi. For a few years, he has been working with the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. He was working as a caretaker and operator there.
What is Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati’s controversy?
In 2025, around 17 female students accused him of sexual harassment and molestation. The girls accused him of sending them obscene messages, using abusive language, and physically harassing them. He even threatened the girls with failing them in exams and not releasing their certifications.
Some girls also complained that he tracked them constantly through CCTV cameras. He was also accused of financial fraud. Soon after the complaint was filed against him, he withdrew a large amount of money from his bank. He also had a few fake visiting cards claiming him as an ambassador to the UN and a member of international bodies.
A luxury Volvo car was also recovered from his premises. When the car number plate was verified it was found that the number was fake. He used to travel in that car claiming that it was a VIP number.
The Sringeri Sharada Peetham immediately released a public statement stating that he was not one of their monks. Their official statement was,
“The public is hereby informed that Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, formerly known as Swami (Dr.) Parthasarathy, has engaged in activities that are illegal, inappropriate, and detrimental to the interests of Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham (Sringeri). As a result, the Peetham has severed all ties with him and lodged complaints with the relevant authorities regarding his unlawful acts.
The Peetham had earlier revoked the power of attorney granted to him and has established a new governing council to oversee the institute’s functioning, ensuring the welfare of students and continuity of academic programmes.
Chaitanyananda Saraswati is not a monk of the order of Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri, nor is he part of the spiritual lineage of Adi Shankaracharya. Legal action is being initiated against him for misrepresentation and misuse of religious affiliation.”
During the police raids on his premises, a few adult toys, morphed photos, and other suspicious material were found. Soon, after the complaint, he absconded. He hid in different places and was finally arrested in Agra. Courts have denied anticipatory bail in some cases. ((The Times of India))
His WhatsApp chat was also found on the mobile phone of various female students. He used to call his female students baby and send various inappropriate and adult messages to them. The verdict in his case is yet to be made as of October 2025.
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Legal Verdicts and Current Status of Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati
In late September 2025, the Patiala House Court in Delhi delivered a crucial verdict in the ongoing case against Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, addressing multiple charges of sexual harassment, fraud, and forgery.
The court denied his anticipatory bail, citing the serious nature of the allegations and emphasizing the necessity of custodial interrogation. The decision reflected the gravity of the accusations against him, particularly concerning alleged coercion and exploitation of students at his institute in South Delhi.
Legal experts highlighted that the denial of anticipatory bail indicated that the court viewed the evidence presented by the police as substantial enough to warrant further investigation under strict supervision.
At the time of the verdict, Chaitanyananda had reportedly been absconding for several weeks, frequently changing locations to evade arrest. Authorities tracked him to Agra, where he was eventually apprehended in late September 2025.
The arrest marked a significant turning point in the case, ending his period as a fugitive and allowing police to bring him into formal custody for questioning. During the arrest and subsequent proceedings, police also uncovered additional irregularities, including the alleged use of a fake diplomatic license plate on his personal vehicle, raising suspicions about his attempts to misuse status and influence to avoid legal consequences. ((The Hans India))
Following his arrest, Chaitanyananda was placed in police custody for further interrogation. The police aimed to collect more evidence regarding the financial fraud, forgery, and manipulation of students at his institute.
Investigations included tracing his financial transactions, bank accounts, and property, alongside examining digital communications with alleged victims. Authorities were particularly focused on verifying claims about coerced documents, surveillance tactics, and misuse of institutional power.
Aftermath and Public Response
The aftermath of Chaitanyananda’s arrest saw significant public attention. The Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri, officially disassociated itself from him, reinforcing that he had no legitimate spiritual authority or lineage from their institution.
The incident sparked wider debates in India about the vulnerability of students in private institutes, the potential misuse of religious or spiritual influence, and the importance of legal accountability for self-styled spiritual leaders.
Social media and news outlets extensively covered the arrest, emphasizing the long delay in apprehending a high-profile fugitive. Many legal analysts suggested that the verdict and custodial proceedings would set a precedent in handling cases involving spiritual leaders accused of sexual harassment and financial fraud.
This highlighted the importance of rigorous investigative processes and victim protection. As of the latest updates in October 2025, Swami Chaitanyananda remains in custody while further investigations continue.
The courts are expected to examine the charges in detail, including financial irregularities, coercion of students, and alleged forgery. His arrest has been described as a critical step toward justice for the victims and a signal of strict enforcement against abuse under the guise of spiritual authority.
