The Allahabad High Court granted interim protection from arrest to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati in a POCSO case. Justice Jitendra Kumar Sinha extended relief to Swami Mukundanand Giri, clarifying that investigation will continue.
PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad High Court granted interim protection from arrest to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, a well-known religious figure in Uttar Pradesh, amid a case filed against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Justice Jitendra Kumar Sinha also extended this protection to his disciple, Swami Mukundanand Giri. However, the Court specified that the investigation would proceed.
The Court ruled,
“Till the disposal of this application, it is provided that the applicants shall not be arrested in Crime No. 58 of 2026, under Sections 351(3) B.N.S. and Sections 5(1), 6, 3, 4(2), 16 and 17 POCSO Act, Police Station Jhoonsi, District Prayagraj and they are directed to cooperate in the investigation and investigation shall continue,”
Recently, a Special POCSO Court ordered police to register a case against the religious figure to investigate allegations of sexual abuse involving two minor boys at a camp.
The allegations were made following a complaint from Shankuri Peethadheshwar Ashutosh Maharaj, who is also a plaintiff in the Krishna Janmabhoomi–Shahi Eidgah title dispute.
After the Prayagraj police registered the first information report (FIR), the accused sought anticipatory bail from the High Court.
The Court has reserved its final order regarding this plea and instructed the parties to submit written arguments and relevant case laws by March 12.
Senior Advocates Dilip Kumar, along with Advocates Rajshri Gupta and Sudhanshu Kumar, represented Avimukteshwaranand.
Additional Advocate General Manish Goyal, Government Advocate Patanjali Mishra, and Additional Government Advocate Roopak Chaubey represented the State.
Advocate Reena N Singh acted on behalf of the complainant.
Case Title: Swami Avimukteshwarand Saraswati Jagatguru Shankaracharya Jyotishpeethadhe shwar And Another v State of UP
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