ADJ Rape and POCSO Special Court in Prayagraj on Saturday directed the Uttar Pradesh police to register an FIR against Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati in connection with the allegations of sexual exploitation.
ADJ (POCSO Act) Vinod Kumar Chaurasia ordered the registration of an FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and his disciple Swami Mukundanand Giri. The court also directed police to conduct a detailed investigation into the allegations of sexual exploitation of 20 children in his camp.
Following the court’s order, a case will now be registered at Jhunsi police station.
The development comes days after Ashutosh Brahmachari filed a complaint in Prayagraj’s Special Rape and POCSO Court on February 8, alleging that the Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya has sexually abused children in his Ashram. The application under Section 173(4) was filed after the Jhunsi police allegedly failed to register a case.
The court heard the matter on February 13. During the hearing, Ashutosh Brahmachari even presented two minor ‘victims’ in an attempt to substantiate his allegations. The court had recorded the statements of both the minors. After recording their statements and taking cognisance of the police report, the court had reserved its judgment.
Ashutosh Brahmachari has alleged that Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati “sexually exploits” minor children at his Ahsram. He even claimed to have submitted a CD containing “evidence” before the court.
What Avimukteshwaranand had said on allegations?
Swami Avimukteshwaranand has denied the allegations, claiming that “some people” are targeting him for speaking against the government and raising his voice for the protection of the cows. Speaking to a Hindi daily, he also sought to link the allegations against him to the Magh Mela controversy.
He said, “First, we were insulted, our people were threatened and beaten up. When that didn’t work, extremely disgusting allegations were made. Such allegations that civilized society cannot even imagine, but truth cannot be affected. We have given all the evidence in court.”