Delhi College Sexual Harassment Case: Chaitanyananda Saraswati Files Bail Plea, Hearing Today; Court Allows Food Without Onion and Garlic

Court Grants Request for Special Food and Essentials

A day earlier, the court approved an interim order allowing Chaitanyananda to receive food without onion and garlic, along with spectacles and medicines.

The court also sought a detailed response from Delhi Police regarding his additional requests for sadhu clothing, spiritual books, and a bed while in custody.

Chaitanyananda was arrested in Agra on September 27 and brought to Delhi the next day, when Delhi Police obtained a five-day remand for interrogation.

Hearings in Two Other Cases Scheduled Next Week

Chaitanyananda’s earlier anticipatory bail plea in a case involving financial irregularities was rejected by the Patiala House Court. The court has now directed police to submit a reply to his request for spiritual clothing and books, as per the jail manual. This application is expected to be heard again on Monday.

In a separate petition seeking a copy of the seizure memo, the court has asked police to respond. That hearing has been scheduled for Friday.

Lawyer Seeks Bed for Ailing Accused

During Wednesday’s hearing, First Class Judicial Magistrate Animesh Kumar observed that the investigating officer’s response was inadequate, as it failed to cite any specific provisions of the jail manual regarding restrictions on clothes or spiritual books.

“The jail manual does not appear to prohibit such items, so how can the court impose a restriction?” the judge remarked.

The accused’s lawyer, Manish Gandhi, also referred to the jail manual, arguing that undertrial prisoners are allowed to wear clothes of their choice.

He further requested that the court direct jail authorities to provide an additional bed, citing that the accused is over 65 years old and suffering from health issues.