The Allahabad high court granted anticipatory bail to seer Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari in a case involving allegations of sexual exploitation of minors under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.The relief was granted on Wednesday by justice Jitendra Kumar Sinha, who also directed both the complainant and the accused to refrain from making any public statements about the case.The court allowed the anticipatory bail pleas while emphasising that the investigation must proceed without external influence. Alongside granting relief from arrest, the court imposed a gag order on both sides, restraining them from speaking to the media on the matter.Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Amazon Web Services ‘disrupted’ following drone attack in Bahrain; Saudi, UAE mull joining Iran war82nd Airborne Division to be deployed in Middle East: Inside America’s fastest strike force that once stormed Nazi-occupied France’Lack of permission’: Iran turns back Pakistan-bound ship trying to pass through Strait of HormuzThe order comes weeks after the court had reserved its judgment following detailed hearings and had earlier extended interim protection from arrest to the accused.Interim protection and court observationsOn February 27, the High Court had stayed the arrest of Avimukteshwaranand, directing that he would not be taken into custody until the final order was pronounced. During the proceedings, the court had also instructed both the state government and the complainant to file their responses and asked the accused to cooperate fully with the investigation.Allegations and FIR detailsThe case stems from an FIR registered at Jhunsi police station in Prayagraj, following directions from a POCSO court. The complaint alleges sexual exploitation of several ‘batuks’ (young disciples) associated with the ashram.The complainant, Ashutosh Pandey alias Ashutosh Brahmachari, has claimed that minors were subjected to abuse, expressing hope that “justice would be served after the evidence was submitted in court.”Defence and prosecution argumentsThe defence has strongly denied the allegations, calling them fabricated. It argued that the complainant has a criminal background and claimed that the alleged victims never resided at the seer’s ashram. The seer also questioned the authenticity of medical reports and accused the complainant of attempting to influence the case.In a notable submission, Avimukteshwaranand expressed willingness to undergo a narcoanalysis test to establish his innocence.The state, however, opposed the anticipatory bail plea on procedural grounds, arguing that the accused had approached the high court directly instead of first moving a sessions court.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIran Denies Permission To Pakistan-Bound Ship Trying To Cross Hormuz As Indian Ships Sail ThroughDelhi Deputy CM Parvesh Verma Calls Arvind Kejriwal Rehman Dakait In Assembly, Sparks Political RowAmid Hormuz Disruption, India Locks 60 Million Barrels Of Russian Oil To Secure Energy Supply’India And UK Are Now AI Superpowers’, Says Rishi Sunak As India Overtakes UK In Global RankingsOil, War, And A Phone Call: PM Modi Draws India’s Red Line At Strait Of Hormuz In Talks With TrumpHarish Rana Cremated After India’s First Passive Euthanasia Patient Dies Ending 13 Years Of ComaIran Calls India Trusted Player, Says Delhi Can Mediate And Ease Strait Of Hormuz Crisis TensionsAfter Dhurandhar 2 Release, Former IG Reveals Atiq Ahmed’s Pak Connection, Fake Currency Racket LinksIndia Built A Naval Network But Missed The Red Sea’s Key ChokepointLPG Ships Pine Gas And Jag Vasant Safely Cross Hormuz, Crew Hails Indian Navy123PhotostoriesK-dramas like ‘Crash Landing on You’ that will give you butterflies: ‘Goblin’, ‘Descendants of the Sun’ and moreWatermelon Guide: Smart tips for picking sweet & juicy watermelon and how to check the purity7 iconic canyons from around the world for your adventure travel wishlist‘Dhurandhar The Revenge’: 7 iconic songs featured in Ranveer Singh starrer, from ‘Aari Aari’ to ‘Tirchi Topiwale’ ‘4 things to do in a recession, as per finance guru and ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ author Robert Kiyosaki7 tallest buildings of Bengaluru showcasing modern architecture5 types of rotis that are best for summer, their digestion time, and the right foods to pair with themPeople who succeed at work follow this one rule no one talks aboutWhy Bengaluru’s Peripheral Ring Road remains unfinished after 18 yearsTop 15 languages spoken in US homes besides English123Hot PicksTrain ticket refund ruleFPV drone attackSonia GandhiGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingCBSE CTET Result 2026Tom BradyRCB soldRSK MP Board 8th ResultRinku SinghWB ANM GNMHarish RanaMinecraft Bedrock 26-10 UpdateStrait of HormuzBihar Board Science Topper
The Allahabad high court granted anticipatory bail to seer Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari in a case involving allegations of sexual exploitation of minors under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.The relief was granted on Wednesday by justice Jitendra Kumar Sinha, who also directed both the complainant and the accused to refrain from making any public statements about the case.The court allowed the anticipatory bail pleas while emphasising that the investigation must proceed without external influence. Alongside granting relief from arrest, the court imposed a gag order on both sides, restraining them from speaking to the media on the matter.The order comes weeks after the court had reserved its judgment following detailed hearings and had earlier extended interim protection from arrest to the accused.
Interim protection and court observations
On February 27, the High Court had stayed the arrest of Avimukteshwaranand, directing that he would not be taken into custody until the final order was pronounced. During the proceedings, the court had also instructed both the state government and the complainant to file their responses and asked the accused to cooperate fully with the investigation.
Allegations and FIR details
The case stems from an FIR registered at Jhunsi police station in Prayagraj, following directions from a POCSO court. The complaint alleges sexual exploitation of several ‘batuks’ (young disciples) associated with the ashram.The complainant, Ashutosh Pandey alias Ashutosh Brahmachari, has claimed that minors were subjected to abuse, expressing hope that “justice would be served after the evidence was submitted in court.”
Defence and prosecution arguments
The defence has strongly denied the allegations, calling them fabricated. It argued that the complainant has a criminal background and claimed that the alleged victims never resided at the seer’s ashram. The seer also questioned the authenticity of medical reports and accused the complainant of attempting to influence the case.In a notable submission, Avimukteshwaranand expressed willingness to undergo a narcoanalysis test to establish his innocence.The state, however, opposed the anticipatory bail plea on procedural grounds, arguing that the accused had approached the high court directly instead of first moving a sessions court.
