Earlier, the police had informed the Court that statements of 16 victims have been recorded before the magistrate, and mobile phones of five victims have been seized, with the remaining 11 to be collected. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) examination reports are awaited. The investigating officer, ACP Ved Prakash, also stated that obscene photos and related comments were recovered, with screenshots serving as evidence.
Fake Number Plate Case: Delhi Court Sends Chaitanyanand Saraswati to Judicial Custody After Fresh Arrest
Delhi Court remanded Chaitanyanand Saraswati to judicial custody in the fake number plate case after his formal arrest by Delhi Police
By : Sukriti Mishra
Update: 2025-12-10 07:20 GMT
Chaitanyanand Saraswati being sent to judicial custody by a Delhi court in the fake diplomatic number plate case
A Delhi Court on Tuesday remanded Chaitanyanand Saraswati to judicial custody in a fake diplomatic number plate case, a day after he was placed in police custody.
The Patiala House Courts took up the matter after the Delhi Police formally arrested him while he was already lodged in jail in a separate molestation case.
Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Animesh Kumar allowed the police plea and sent Saraswati to judicial custody, noting that the investigation in the cheating and forgery case, registered under various provisions of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita—was still underway. Police had sought 14 days of judicial custody, citing the need to secure evidence linked to the alleged use of a fake diplomatic registration plate.
The Court had earlier issued a production warrant on November 27 to bring Saraswati before the magistrate in the cheating case. He was subsequently placed under formal arrest by the Delhi Police.
In the parallel molestation case, the Court has already taken cognisance of the chargesheet filed against Saraswati and four co-accused, including three women. Saraswati was first arrested on September 28 in Agra. The charge sheet, filed on November 26, invokes several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, including sections 75(2), 79, 232, 351(3), and 238(b).
In a related news, Chaitanyananda, a former chairman of the institute, is currently in judicial custody over allegations of sexual abuse. According to the report signed by a deputy superintendent of the prison, officials interacted with him regarding his claim but he did not name or identify anyone posing the alleged threat.
So far, five individuals, including three women, have been arrested in the molestation case.
Previously, on October 15, the Court had declined the plea for seizure memos but allowed Saraswati certain concessions in jail, including wearing his Sanyasi robe, access to medicines, spectacles, books, and food.
Saraswati, previously remanded on October 3, was in judicial custody till October 17. The police had informed the Court that they had added a fresh charge of threatening witnesses to give false evidence under Section 232 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Chaitanyananda, who was arrested from a hotel after evading police for days, underwent a medical examination at Safdarjung Hospital before being brought to court. According to DCP (South-West) Amit Goel, a special team had been tracking him across Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal before finally nabbing him in Agra.
Days before his arrest, a former student who first lodged an FIR against him in 2016 came forward with new disclosures. According to media reports, she alleged that her original complaint of molestation and harassment was ignored. She said that had authorities acted on her case nine years ago, many other women might not have suffered.
The complainant described systematic exploitation by Chaitanyananda, alleging that students’ laptops, phones, and educational documents were confiscated and withheld to exert control. She further accused him of manipulating students with false promises of foreign placements while subjecting them to unwanted advances.
The case against Chaitanyananda stems from an FIR lodged on September 23 at Vasant Kunj North Police Station, where multiple women students of the PGDM programme under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) scholarship accused him of sexual harassment and misconduct. The allegations led the Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri to revoke the Power of Attorney earlier granted to him in 2008.
Bench: Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Animesh Kumar
Hearing Date: December 9, 2025
[Inputs: ANI]