Swami Avimukteshwaranand Seeks Anticipatory Bail Amid Sexual Assault Allegations

Legal Action by Swami Avimukteshwaranand

Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati has approached the Allahabad High Court for anticipatory bail in connection with sexual assault and POCSO cases filed against him. This petition, submitted through the legal team of lawyers Rajarshi Gupta, Sudhanshu Kumar, and Shri Prakash, comes shortly after a special court in Prayagraj ordered the registration of an FIR following allegations of sexual exploitation of minors. A hearing on this petition is expected to take place soon.

A request was also filed in the district court under Section 173(4) by Ashutosh Brahmachari, a disciple of Tulsi Peethadhishwar Swami Rambhadracharya.

Court Orders Investigation

ADJ Vinod Kumar Chaurasia of the POCSO special court directed the Jhunsi police to register a case and initiate an investigation. Following this directive, the police have filed an FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand, his disciple Mukundanand Giri, and two to three unidentified individuals. The FIR was registered under Section 351(3) of the BNS Act and Section 51 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, including Sections 6, 3, 4(2), 16, and 17. The police have commenced their investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, on Monday, Swami Avimukteshwaranand claimed that the POCSO case against him was a diversion from the government's demand for a ban on cow slaughter.

Allegations Against the Government

In a conversation with media representatives, Swami Avimukteshwaranand accused the government of targeting Shankaracharyas. He asserted that the other accused in the alleged POCSO case were not affiliated with his Gurukul. The religious leader emphasized that they regularly engage with the public and criticized the government for wanting them to act as both religious leaders and government representatives. He noted that there are four Shankaracharyas in the country who have consistently defended Sanatan Dharma, and now they are facing attacks. He stated, "Truth never dies; it always prevails. We will continue to raise our voices for a ban on cow slaughter, as these individuals aim to distract the public from other issues."

Police Visit for Arrest

Earlier that day, the Uttar Pradesh police arrived at Swami Avimukteshwaranand's residence to arrest him in connection with the alleged sexual assault case. Speaking to the media, the Swami expressed his willingness to cooperate with the police and stated that he would not resist in any manner. On the other hand, just last Saturday, the POCSO court in Prayagraj ordered the registration of an FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati following allegations of sexual exploitation of minors.