A Delhi court, on Monday, October 13, 2025, denied bail to self-styled godman Chaitanyananda Saraswati, stating that the severity of the alleged offense was “increased multifold” due to the significant number of victims involved.
Saraswati remains in judicial custody, facing accusations of molesting 17 women students.
Additional Sessions Judge Deepti Devesh, who has adjourned the bail hearing to October 27, highlighted during the proceedings that there were currently no sufficient grounds to grant statutory bail to the accused.
Responding to the defense counsel’s strong assertion that Saraswati was falsely implicated, the judge orally remarked, “The gravity of the offense increases multifold because of the number of victims.” The accused’s lawyer had previously argued that his client was framed and that the female students were coerced or enticed with threats of scholarship withdrawal into lodging false complaints.
“You claim he has been implicated,” the judge questioned, “but there are 16 victims. While it might be possible to influence one, two, or even three individuals, how could all 16 be persuaded to make false accusations?”
Saraswati’s counsel contended that most of the alleged offenses were bailable, with the exception of BNS Section 232 (threatening a person to give false evidence), an offense added later during the investigation, which carries a maximum sentence of three years.
The defense further argued that there was no substantial evidence linking Saraswati, who formerly chaired a private management institute, to the alleged crimes, and that the charges under BNS Section 232 were not applicable.
“The allegations merely state he applied colors to his disciples during Holi and engaged in handshakes,” the advocate claimed, urging the court to review the specifics, asserting, “There are no sexual offenses involved.”
The judge countered, asking, “The statements of all 16 victims – are they not substantive evidence?” During the same hearing, the legal representative for the private management institute revealed that the case gained momentum after an email from a female Indian Air Force group captain brought Saraswati’s alleged misconduct to light.
The investigating officer (IO) informed the court that the original WhatsApp chats from the complainants were unavailable due to the “disappearing messages” feature on their phones, with only screenshots recovered as evidence.
The IO added, “Three other women are implicated, as they allegedly compelled the students to delete their chat histories.”
When questioned by the court about the arrest of these three women, the IO confirmed they had only been “bound down.” Following a request from Saraswati’s counsel, the court then adjourned the bail plea hearing to October 27.
Last month, a Delhi Police team apprehended Saraswati in Agra, where he had been residing in a hotel.
The First Information Report (FIR) details allegations that Saraswati coerced female students into visiting his residence late at night and sent them inappropriate text messages at unusual hours.
Furthermore, it is alleged that he meticulously monitored the students’ movements using his mobile phone.