Allahabad HC Grants Anticipatory Bail to Swami Avimukteshwaranand in POCSO Case
Allahabad HC Grants Anticipatory Bail to Swami Avimukteshwaranand in POCSO Case
The Allahabad High Court grants anticipatory bail to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati in a POCSO case, citing inconsistencies in the reporting timeline and procedural concerns.
The Allahabad High Court on March 25, 2026, granted anticipatory bail to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath, in a POCSO case registered in Prayagraj. The court noted several inconsistencies and procedural concerns, deciding that protection from arrest was warranted at this stage. The FIR against Saraswati and his aide Mukundanand Giri was registered on the directions of a special court in Prayagraj, following a complaint by Ashutosh Brahmachari and two minors alleging sexual abuse during the Magh Mela.
The court highlighted delays in reporting the alleged incident, pointing out that the informant claimed the incident occurred on January 18, but the complaint was filed six days later. An earlier complaint on January 21 did not reference the alleged offences. The judges also observed that the minors were not placed in the custody of their parents or suitable authorities until late February and had remained with the informant for a considerable period. Variations in the victims’ statements regarding the time and place of occurrence, with references extending beyond the FIR’s stated period and location, were noted as significant factors.
Saraswati has contended that the case is politically motivated and that he has been falsely implicated. Earlier, Justice Jitendra Kumar Sinha had granted interim bail to him and Mukundanand Giri; the March 25 order issued the final decision on anticipatory bail. The court’s order does not determine guilt or innocence but provides protection from arrest while the investigation continues, amid ongoing public and political discourse surrounding Magh Mela and associated allegations.
