New Delhi, Nov 26 (IANS) Delhi Police has filed a chargesheet before the Patiala House Courts against self-styled godman ‘Swami’ Chaitanyanand Saraswati — Director of the Sri Sharda Institute of Indian Management in the capital’s Vasant Kunj — along with three others, in the sensational case involving allegations of sexual abuse of 17 women students at the institute.
Chaitanyanand, who continues to be lodged in Tihar Jail, was arrested in September after weeks on the run.
The Patiala House Court is expected to take cognisance of the charge sheet on Thursday.
According to investigators, the charge sheet outlines a detailed pattern of abuse allegedly carried out at the institution, where Chaitanyanand served as Director and wielded considerable influence over the academic and hostel hierarchy.
Delhi Police had recorded statements of multiple students, wardens and staff members, along with digital evidence and forensic material.
The charges include sexual harassment, criminal intimidation, destruction of evidence and other serious offences, naming Chaitanyanand and three associates.
According to investigators, the co-accused allegedly helped the ‘Swami’ summon women students, primarily those enrolled under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) scholarship category, to restricted areas, including a “torture room” on the ground floor of the institute.
During the probe, WhatsApp chats recovered from the phones of nearly 50 students have revealed disturbing details of coercion and alleged abuse spanning nearly 16 years.
The scandal first erupted in August this year when 17 women filed formal complaints at the Defence Colony Police Station, accusing the Director of systematically exploiting his authority.
As per the Delhi Police, Chaitanyanand has allegedly been preying on women for nearly two decades, emboldened by his ability to escape previous molestation charges in 2009 and 2016.
Adding to the controversy, police recovered multiple forged number plates from Chaitanyananda’s luxury red Volvo car, all carrying fake United Nations insignia with different digits. Investigations confirmed that none of the plates were issued by the UN and had been fabricated by the accused himself. The car has been seized as part of the ongoing probe.
He also had two visiting cards. On one of the accused’s visiting cards, he identified himself as a BRICS Commission Member and had written “Special Envoy from India”. In the UN visiting card, he described himself as a “Permanent Ambassador”.
–IANS
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New Delhi, Dec 2 (IANS) Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury sparked a major political row on Tuesday as she alleged that the Armed Forces are being forced to speak for the Central government, and this is the most pressing matter of today’s times.
Her startling allegations triggered a quick retort from the BJP, which accused her of demeaning and insulting the bravehearts and also demanded an apology.
Congress Rajya Sabha member Renuka Chowdhury, speaking to IANS inside the Parliament complex, said, “The most frightening situation today is that, for the first time, Army leaders are coming out in the media to defend the government, and they say that they are being pressured to speak for the government. They are being harassed and forced to become the government’s mouthpiece.”
“This must be investigated,” she demanded, adding that she was herself a daughter of Army veterans.
Her remarks have kicked up a major political controversy, with the BJP taking strong exception to her “bizarre and frivolous” remarks, and also demanding that she tender an apology for insulting the Forces
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala called out Congress’ history of demeaning the valour of the Armed Forces and recalled multiple instances of Congress leaders making unsavoury remarks against the Army, and also doubted operations like Surgical and Balakot strikes.
“It was Renuka Chowdhury and her Congress party, who raised questions over the Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev, refusing to acknowledge and applaud our forces for teaching our enemies a lesson,” he said.
He said that there are multiple instances when Congress leaders insulted the Armed Forces, and are at it again by claiming that they are being pressured and harassed.
A day ago, Renuka Chowdhury hit the headlines as she brought her pet dog to the Parliament complex and allegedly took potshots at the Parliamentarians.
When questioned by scribes on whether bringing a dog was a violation of the parliamentary protocol, she said that the dog posed no threat and it was merely accompanying her.
“Those who bite, sit inside the Parliament,” she reportedly said, triggering strong backlash from the BJP.
–IANS
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Gandhinagar, June 28 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is also the Member of Parliament from the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, on Sunday flagged off 40 electric buses under the PM eBus Sewa scheme in the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and other senior officials.
The launch marks the first phase of the Centre’s PM eBus Sewa initiative in the Gujarat capital, where a total of 100 electric midi buses have been sanctioned to strengthen urban public transport.
The buses will be operated by Gandhinagar Greenline Transport Service Limited (GGTSL), established by the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation.
The PM eBus Sewa scheme is being implemented across the country with an estimated outlay of Rs 57,613 crore, including a Central Government contribution of Rs 20,000 crore.
Based on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the scheme aims to deploy 10,000 electric buses in cities across India to provide cleaner and more accessible public transport.
The 40 buses introduced in the first phase are fully air-conditioned, nine-metre-long electric midi buses with seating capacity for 25 passengers and standing space for 13 more.
Each bus is equipped with a hydraulic ramp to facilitate access for persons with disabilities. Four seats have been reserved for women and another four for senior citizens.
The buses are also fitted with Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs), allowing passengers to pay fares using QR codes, UPI and other digital cashless payment methods.
To support the fleet, a modern depot and charging infrastructure has been developed at Sargasan at an estimated cost of around Rs 17 crore.
The facility includes charging stations, maintenance infrastructure and operational control systems for uninterrupted bus operations.
The buses will operate on 18 planned routes connecting Gandhinagar with surrounding areas, including Sargasan, Pathikashram, the Secretariat, Gandhinagar Railway Station, Mahatma Mandir, GIFT City, Chiloda, Dahegam, Kadi, Kalol, Chandkheda, Dhamasan, Naradipur, Sonipur, Kotha, Adraj Moti, Tintoda, IIT Gandhinagar, Dabhoda and Mansa. Fares have been fixed according to travel distance, ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 30.
Passengers travelling less than three kilometres will pay Rs 5, while fares are Rs 10 for 3-5 km, Rs 15 for 5-8 km, Rs 20 for 8-14 km, Rs 25 for 14-20 km and Rs 30 for journeys exceeding 20 km.
The Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation has announced that travel on the new service will remain free for the first 15 days after its launch to encourage citizens to use the buses.
Thereafter, children below the age of five will continue to travel free of charge.
According to the authorities, the introduction of the electric buses is intended to expand clean public transport options in Gandhinagar while improving accessibility, passenger convenience and digital ticketing facilities.
–IANS
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