POCSO Allegations Against Spiritual Leader Is A Deride To Religion.

Varanasi; February 2026: Amid the alleged child sexual abuse case against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, a Shahjahanpur-based resident has claimed that attempts were made to pressure his family into filing a complaint against Jyotirmath Shankaracharya.

Ramakant Dixit, a resident of Shahjahanpur, alleged that three persons approached him and made him speak to Ashutosh Pandey over the phone. “Three people came to me and made me talk to Ashutosh

Pandey on my phone. They told us that Swamiji needs to be ‘fixed’ a bit. They talked about making allegations against Shankaracharyaji. I told them how you can say such things about my daughters. I have met Shankaracharyaji. I have not made any allegations against Shankaracharyaji”, Dixit said.

Swami Avimukteshwaranand denied the allegations, claiming they are fabricated to harm him and Sanatan Dharma. “Today, a family came to me from Shahjahanpur who told me that a person named Ashutosh Maharaj had told them to file a complaint against Avimukteshwaranand in the name of their

minor daughters. When they refused, they were threatened. In this way, attempts are being made to turn people against us by luring or intimidating them”, he said.

The complainant, Ashutosh Bramhachari Maharaj, alleged that minors were coerced into acts under the guise of ‘guru seva’ at Vidyamath in Varanasi. The court has recorded statements from two minor victims, and the investigation is ongoing.

This comes after a POCSO court in Prayagraj has ordered the registration of an FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath, and his disciple Mukundanand

Giri, alleging sexual exploitation of minors at his ashram. The court has directed the police to conduct a fair and independent investigation, protecting the victims’ identity and dignity.

Meanwhile, advocate Shrinath Tripathi, representing the Jyotirmath Shankaracharya, said there was no mention of evidence in the FIR and the court order, adding that the police will collect evidence before considering an arrest. “There was no mention of evidence in the FIR and the court order. The police will collect evidence first and only then think about an arrest. Today, they have recorded the statements of the children in Lucknow. We are prepared for legal proceedings in the lower court, High Court, and Supreme Court”, Tripathi said. He added that the decision to arrest rests with the police.

“Whether to arrest or not depends on their discretion. If they do arrest, it will be very dangerous for them, like playing with fire”, he said. Further investigation into the matter is underway.

Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an independent and impartial investigation into a case registered against Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He also urged that the probe be handed over to a central or independent agency to ensure transparency.

In his letter, Rai requested the Prime Minister to ensure an “independent, impartial, and transparent investigation” into the case filed under the POCSO Act at Jhusi police station in Prayagraj, and to protect “the constitutional dignity of religious autonomy”.

Referring to media reports, Rai wrote, “You are likely aware from reports published in various media outlets recently that an FIR has been filed under the POCSO Act against Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati of the Jyotirmath Peeth. It has also been reported that the FIR was filed in compliance with court orders. It is the duty of every citizen and the government to respect court orders”. However, he added that “The circumstances and broader perspective surrounding this case have raised serious questions and concerns in society”.

Rai pointed out that Swamiji had earlier publicly questioned the Uttar Pradesh government’s administrative arrangements in connection with the stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela. “Subsequently, incidents of him being prevented from bathing at the Magh Mela and alleged mistreatment of the monks accompanying him also came to light, sparking widespread criticism. In this context, the timing of the current criminal proceedings has naturally become a subject of public

debate”, the letter stated. Calling for scrutiny of the complainants as well, Rai said, “It is also crucial that the background of the individuals filing the FIR, their circumstances, and possible motivating factors be impartially examined. If this case is the result of a fully legal and independent criminal process, a transparent investigation will automatically establish the truth; however, if there is any

suspicion of political motivation, pressure, or malicious intent, its timely resolution is equally essential”.

He stressed that “only an investigation, supervised by an independent or central agency, if necessary, can strengthen public confidence”.

Citing constitutional provisions, Rai noted that Articles 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution guarantee religious freedom and the fundamental right of religious sects to manage their own affairs. “The position of Shankaracharya is one of the highest spiritual positions in the Sanatan tradition, whose validity and tradition are determined by historical religious practices”, he wrote. He further said that Supreme Court judgments have clarified that “judicial intervention is justified if criminal proceedings prima facie appear to be malicious or vindictive” and that “criminal law cannot be used as a tool of repression or retaliation. Clearly, dissent or criticism cannot be suppressed by punitive power”, Rai wrote, adding that the criminal process must be “impartial, independent, and completely free from political influence”, and that state power should not be used “to influence or damage the reputation of any spiritual leader”.

Rai further added, “If the circumstances arising against a top religious leader create the perception that there is an unnecessary conflict between the government and the spiritual tradition, it could generate discontent and anguish among the wider religious community. Timely resolution of any such apprehension is essential for the sake of democratic balance and social harmony”. He also said that “questions are being raised in Indian society as to whether the actions being taken by the UP government under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath are motivated by unnecessary harshness or vindictiveness”.

“This issue is not just about one individual, but also concerns faith, constitutional rights, and the impartiality of governance. The people of the country deserve confidence that the rule of law is supreme in India and that abuses of any kind will not be protected. We look forward to your prompt intervention”, the letter read.

Yesterday while speaking with the media reporters, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, has termed the POCSO Act case against him a “tactic” by the UP government to divert attention from the demand of ban on cow slaughter. He further said that the other accused in the alleged POCSO

case was not linked to his Gurukul.

The religious leader said, “We meet the public from time to time. This government wants that we should be both the religious leaders and the government. There are four Shankaracharya’s in the country who have always protected Sanatan Dharma. Now they have started attacking them. Truth never ends; it always remains. The voice has been raised for the ban on cow slaughter, and we will continue to raise this voice even louder. These people want to divert the attention of the public to something else. The people of the country want cows to be protected. By meeting the Shankaracharya’s of all four Peeths, we are running this movement for the protection of Mother cow”.

“The students who are being talked about are not from our Gurukul”, he added. Earlier today, the Uttar Pradesh Police arrived at the residence of Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati to arrest him in an

alleged sexual assault case. Speaking to media persons, the Swami said that he will not oppose the police in any way and will cooperate with them. “Whatever the police do, the public is watching everything. Look, for us there are three courts. One is the lower court, one is the middle court, and one is the Supreme Court. The lower court is the public, the people are watching everything, and they are the ones who will give the verdict. The middle court is our own conscience, we know in our hearts whether we are wrong or not. And the third is God, the Supreme Court! He is also watching who is wrong and who is right. So, in such a situation, we have a clean chit from all three courts” Swami Avimukteshwaranand said.

Denying all allegations against him, he demanded that the CCTV footage and the purported CD to be made public. The religious leader said, “The lies are eventually exposed. The story will be proven false, if not today, then tomorrow, if not tomorrow, then the day after. We were within the reach of your cameras. CCTV cameras are installed everywhere in Prayagraj. They had installed them everywhere so that if anything happens, they can monitor it from the war room, and they will have everything recorded. Our bus wasn’t parked inside our camp, because after the police brutality against us, we didn’t enter the camp. So, in this situation, everything is captured by CCTV. Those boys never entered our Gurukul, never studied, and we have nothing to do with them. They are students of a school in Hardoi, as evidenced by their marksheets submitted in the lawsuit”.

“So, when they never came here, and have nothing to do with this place, how can anyone do anything to them? And thirdly, they are spreading confusion by saying, ‘There’s a CD’ so why isn’t it being made public? These are all questions that will be asked in the coming days, and they will have to answer them”, he added.

Team Maverick.