Man Accused in Ashram Abuse Case Arrested from Agra Hotel After 11-Hour Search

A man facing serious allegations involving the abuse of 17 female students at a Delhi-based ashram, known as Chaitanyanand Saraswati alias Swami Parth Sarathi, was arrested from a hotel in Agra under dramatic circumstances. The accused arrived in Agra on Saturday using a taxi with Mathura registration and checked into Hotel The First, located in the Tajganj area. He booked room number 101 for a single night, claiming he was in town for a personal event. While he submitted his Aadhaar card as ID proof, he did not provide a contact number. According to hotel staff, he remained inside and only ordered food once from a nearby restaurant. Roughly 11 hours later, around 3 AM on Sunday, a team from Delhi Crime Branch reached the hotel. Two officers identified themselves and directly proceeded to the room. After a brief 15-minute conversation with the suspect, he was quietly escorted out with minimal disturbance, carrying a small suitcase and a handbag. Locals reported that the accused had initially tried to book a room at another hotel but later shifted to this one with help from the taxi driver and a few nearby individuals. Earlier, surveillance had traced his location to areas like Dayalbagh and Pratappura, but he evaded arrest until he entered Tajganj — where his presence was confirmed via electronic tracking. This arrest has raised a pressing question: if the suspect was aware that law enforcement was actively searching for him, why did he choose to stay in a city under heavy surveillance like Agra? Was he receiving assistance locally? Authorities are now investigating this angle further.