Copyright thehindu
While the Delhi police search for Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, director of Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management-Research and accused of sexually harassing 17 students, several former students recalled living stressfully and facing harassment. Radhika (name changed), 29, said she chose the institute because it was budget-friendly, but felt uncomfortable from the second day of joining. “For an MBA, the fee was less than ₹6 lakh, so it seemed a good option,” she said. “He [Mr. Chaitanyananda] would stare, smirk, and touch me under the garb of blessing me. When I narrated my experience with my seniors, they told me about the other students who had faced worse,” she said. Ms. Radhika said she completed her MBA under severe stress. Aditi (name changed), 27, said several women in her batch struggled. “He singled out a few of us, assigned a separate room, confiscated our phones, and forbade us from contacting our families,” she said. Pallavi (name changed), 32, said authorities were repeatedly informed of the accused’s misconduct, but in vain. “He bought me an expensive phone and forced me to accept it, insisting I text only him. When I refused, he threatened me with suspension or termination,” she said. A few former male students also said that they were mistreated by Mr. Chaitanyananda. Ajay (name changed), 33, a former student, said, “I was asked to leave the hostel because he was in a bad mood, and we ordered cake to celebrate my classmate’s birthday,” said Mr. Ajay. He said he lived in a rented place throughout the course, despite paying hostel fees. Police are using human and technical intelligence to locate Mr. Chaitanyananda, who faces charges under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for fraud, forgery, cheating, and sexual assault.
