Sharada Peetham Cuts Ties with the Accused

Sharada Peetham Cuts Ties with the Accused The Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham—a centuries-old monastic institution with huge religious and educational influence—announced that it had formally cut off all ties with Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati (also known as Parthasarthi). The decision followed growing pressure from the public, students, and police after allegations of sexual harassment.

Surfaced against Parthasarthi, the former head of the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian, Management in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. This move marks not merely a reputational safeguard for the Peetham but also an important step in distancing the spiritual institution from the scandals surrounding the self-styled godman.

The Peetham explained in its public statement that while the institute had originally been set up under its auspices, the governance of daily activities had been delegated to local administrators, including Parthasarthi. Once the accusations gained national headlines, trustees and senior monks faced a great dilemma—whether to defend the accused as a long-standing member or to guard the integrity of the Sharada name. Choosing the latter, the leadership swiftly moved to replace him, dissolve prevailing administrative structures, and create a new governing council. According to insiders, the Peetham wanted to avert the scandal from corroding decades of trust built around its educational and spiritual missions.

The decision to cut ties also mirrors the institutional awareness of legal liabilities. By disowning the accused and reiterating their commitment to ethics and education, the

Peetham wants to demonstrate to regulators like AICTE (the All India Council for Technical Education) that curative measures are underway. This is particularly significant because the institute continues to host students, some of whom were directly affected by the misconduct.

Number of Complainants and Allegations Growing The scale of accusations against Parthasarthi has grown dramatically in recent weeks, transforming the case completely - from an isolated misconduct scandal into one of the most disturbing instances of systemic abuse within an Indian management institution. As of the latest updates, police have recorded statements from as many as 32 female students, with at least 17 of them openly accusing Parthasarthi of sexual harassment. These accounts describe a scary pattern of behavior: obscene messages sent via SMS and

WhatsApp, recurrent unwanted physical advances, and the use of intimidating and abusive language.

What makes these allegations even more grave is the claim of coercion. Multiple students have stated that the accused used his authoritative position to threaten academic retaliation against those who tried to resist his advances. Threats included withholding attendance credits, failing students in exams, and blocking access to placement opportunities.

Another prominent detail is the involvement of EWS (Economically Weaker Section) quota students. Many of the complainants are from underprivileged backgrounds, highlighting how vulnerability was methodically exploited. For such students, education very often represents the only route to economic motion, making them particularly prone to pressure from authoritative figures who hold the power to make or break their academic careers. 

Whereabouts and Legal Status of the Accused. As of late September 2025, Chaitanyananda remains absconding, dodging law enforcement despite growing evidence and multiple FIRs filed against him. According to initial reports, Chaitanyananda was present in London when the complaints started surfacing in early August. Since then, intelligence inputs suggest he has been moving across Indian states, with sightings in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Agra. However, none of these leads has yet led to his arrest. Delhi Police have issued a look-out circular (LOC) against him, a step used to prevent individuals from exiting the country.

Role of Staff and Complicity 

One of the most worrying dimensions of this case is the alleged complicity of administrative staff and faculty in enabling or covering up the misconduct. Some students claim that senior staff members pressurised them to stay silent, delete evidence, and even draft apology emails that depicted the accused as innocent. These revelations raise the likelihood that the scandal was not just personal misconduct but an ominous sign of systemic institutional failure.

Reports specify that female staff members, in particular, may have played a proactive role in coercing survivors. Survivors allege that these staff members operated as intermediaries, relaying instructions from Chaitanyananda and imposing compliance.

Institutional Governance Changes

In light of the scandal, the Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham has undertaken noteworthy steps to repair the governance of the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management.

Recognizing the scale of the calamity and its potential to derail the academic futures of enrolled students, the Peetham announced the formation of a new 11-member governing council to manage the institute.

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